Gainsborough Trinity, a non-league football club, has issued a strong condemnation of an individual who has been impersonating their manager, Russ Wilcox. The person has been approaching players across various levels of non-league football, making false transfer and wage offers.
CEO Matt Boles stated that it is "categorically clear" that these communications did not originate from manager Russ Wilcox or the club. "We strongly condemn the actions of the individual responsible," Boles said on the Gainsborough club website. "Impersonating a football manager and making false representations to players is completely unacceptable and has the potential to cause unnecessary disruption and reputational damage to players, managers and clubs."
The club became aware of the fraudulent approaches when managers and officials from other clubs contacted Wilcox directly, having recognized the methods were not his own. "Many have done so precisely because they know Russ, know the professional standards by which he conducts himself, and immediately recognised that this is not the manner in which he would approach or attempt to recruit a player," Boles explained.
Boles directed a pointed message to the individual responsible, stating, "Enough is enough. Stop impersonating our manager, stop wasting the time of players and clubs across the non-league game and, quite frankly, get a life."
Gainsborough Trinity, who reached the FA Cup second round in the 2024-25 season and the first round last season under Wilcox's management, have informed the Northern Premier League and the Football Association about the incidents. Wilcox has managed the club since 2023 and previously held managerial positions at Scunthorpe United and York City. He had a playing career that included stints with Northampton Town, Hull City, Doncaster Rovers, Preston North End, and Scunthorpe.