Newly appointed Bath City manager Scott Bartlett has labelled the club a ‘sleeping giant’ as he steps into a challenging role. Bartlett, who previously managed Weston-super-Mare and Eastleigh, took over following the sacking of Darren Way after 11 games without a win.
Having spent just over a month out of football after his stint at Eastleigh ended, Bartlett was drawn to Bath City despite their difficult position in the league. “I was planning a break until summer, but this job was the right challenge at the right time,” he explained. “If the worst happens, we rebuild and come back stronger.”
Bartlett’s connection to Bath City runs deep; he played 10 games for the club in 2010, including the Promotion Final victory over Woking that secured their place in the Conference Premier. Reflecting on his past time at the club, he said, “It was an enjoyable period, and I made many good connections.”
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He expressed optimism about the club’s potential, praising the passionate fanbase. “Seeing over 1,000 supporters in poor weather made me realise the huge potential here. We need to build a strong, consistent squad to achieve lasting success, much like models I’ve seen at Salisbury and Weston.”
However, Bartlett’s first game in charge was a bittersweet experience. Bath City took the lead through goals from Josh Laqeretabua and Alex Fisher following an early deficit, but a last-minute header from Will Armitage for bottom-placed Eastbourne denied them victory, extending their winless streak to 13 games.
The match revealed recurring issues, notably the Romans conceding late goals on the road—a costly pattern in their fight for survival. Early pressure from Eastbourne saw Jack Jebb open the scoring with a powerful strike. Despite injury forcing goalkeeper Harvey Wiles-Richards off at halftime, Bath responded strongly with Laqeretabua’s equaliser and Fisher’s second-half winner.
Bartlett’s tactical changes and substitutions showed promise, but a late lapse on a set-piece allowed Eastbourne to snatch a point. The result leaves both clubs languishing in the bottom two, with Eastbourne’s prolonged National League South tenure seemingly at risk, while Bath City remain hopeful of a late rescue with seven games left.
Bartlett reflected on the game, noting, “Both teams seemed unaccustomed to winning. There was effort but a lack of quality. We improved as the game went on and deserved to be ahead, but we need to manage the final moments better in future. Overall, it’s probably a fair outcome.”