More managers than goals: Ex-Portsmouth and Coventry striker has fourth boss in seven weeks at chaotic club
The striker has managed just four career goals since ill-fated Fratton Park spell
A former Pompey player has his fourth manager in seven weeks as his team battle to stay in the Football League.
Life has been difficult for Tyler Walker since his unsuccessful Fratton Park stay in 2021-22 with just four career goals - and he’s currently attempting to kick-start his career with Barrow.
The 29-year-old, who has suffered injury problems in recent years, has scored just twice in 20 appearances for the League Two strugglers this season.
And now he’s had more managers than goals after Dino Maamria’s sacking by the Cumbrian club following six matches - and 28 days - in charge.
The former Burton, Stevenage and Oldham boss took over last month and enjoyed an encouraging 1-0 win over Danny Cowley’s Colchester in his first game in charge.
However, after taking one point from Barrow’s next five matches, he was sacked following Tuesday night’s 2-0 defeat to Bristol Rovers, which leaves them above the relegation zone on goal difference.
Maamria’s predecessor lasted 40 days
Maamria had succeeded Paul Gallagher in February, with the former Stoke first-team coach having lasted 40 days after losing all five of his matches in charge.
In turn, Gallagher has replaced Andy Whing, who was dismissed in January following 11 months at the helm. Whing had overseen 16 signings and 17 departures last summer.
Now Walker’s latest Barrow manager is team-mate Sam Foley, who has been handed the interim head coach role until the end of the season.
And the 39-year-old’s first match at the helm will be at home to Accrington on Saturday as the Bluebirds attempt to haul themselves up the League Two table.
‘Sam Foley, supported by Simon Ireland and David Worrall, will take the team until the end of the season. We recognise that this has been a very disappointing season with far too much managerial change.
‘As the Board of Directors, we understand that the buck stops with us. We believe this change gives us the best chance of remaining in the football league.’
Four career goals since leaving Fratton Park
Since leaving Pompey in the summer of 2022 - a loan spell which yielded one goal in 15 games - Walker has scored just four career goals, including a non-league stint with Wealdstone.
Certainly there was much excitement which greeted his Fratton Park arrival in January 2022, having previously netted in the Championship, League One, League Two and as an England under-20 international.
Cowley had previously managed the striker during a prolific loan stay at Lincoln two years earlier which would pave the way for a switch to Coventry in August 2020.
However, he proved to be a desperately poor recruit while at Fratton Park, failing to live up to expectations and never again playing for Pompey after being substituted at Cheltenham in April 2022 following a particularly lacklustre showing.
He returned to Coventry and scored once in another 19 appearances in 2022-23, before being handed a free transfer and joining Lincoln in July 2023.
Walker then switched to Wealdstone on loan in March 2025, scoring once, before moving to Barrow in July 2025.