Hello and welcome to the midweek edition of The Southport Lead.
Today is the third time this newsletter has focused on goings on at Southport FC - but sadly for less positive reasons. We previously looked at signs of hope and positivity at Haig Ave when new owners replaced the Big Help Project era which left the club on the brink of collapse and again when an FA Trophy run brought optimism and thousands of fans just a few months ago.
By contrast, the club has this week found itself having to answer questions about the online activities of struggling manager Mark Duffy whose social media posts offered support to the likes of far-right thug Tommy Robinson.
Duffy had only been given the role on a permanent basis less than three weeks ago - and had been far from impressive in that period - but he has now left the club.
Southport briefing
💔 Tributes have been paid to a mum-of-three and community stalwart who died suddenly just one month after getting married. Former Sefton councillor Helen Duerden was remembered for her “dedication, professionalism and passion” in her work at Sefton Council for Voluntary Service (CVS) after her untimely death at the age of 55. Helen carried out roles including heritage officer and volunteer centre co-ordinator during her time with the organisation and was elected to the council in 2024. She tragically suffered an aneurysm and died on October 16. Paying tribute, a spokesperson for Sefton Labour said its members “are so very proud to have had the opportunity to know and work with Helen and to have her as a big part of our Labour family” adding, “We are proud to call her a friend and colleague. She will be sadly missed by us all.” A spokesperson for the CVS said: “Everyone at Sefton CVS feels privileged to have known and worked alongside Helen. We will remember her with great fondness for her positive attitude, energy and joy in life, and she will be deeply missed by us all.”
🚗 New laws which will give drivers more leeway on parking fines have been welcomed by Southport’s MP as stopping the “exploitation” of drivers. Patrick Hurley has previously raised the issue of unfair parking fines and was pleased to see the introduction of a new Private Parking Code of Practice which was brought before Parliament yesterday. Under the new rules, car parks must offer at least five minutes to decide whether to park and 10 minutes to leave once a session ends. There will also be a right to have charges cancelled on appeal for issues they can’t control, such as a medical emergency, breakdown or broken ticket machine. Penalties will be capped at £100, with a maximum charge of £20 on appeal for mistakes like forgetting a parking permit or entering the wrong vehicle registration. Operators who don’t comply risk losing access to DVLA data, meaning that even if they issue a charge, it will be far more difficult to identify the registered owner to pursue payment. Hurley said: “The private parking industry has been allowed to catch people out for too long, and I’m delighted the Government is now acting with measures that will make a real difference to everyday motorists. These changes will help ensure drivers aren’t punished by over-complicated and inconsistent parking rules, while putting a stop to the exploitation of genuine mistakes and unavoidable emergencies. If you’ve been affected by unfair parking practices, please get in touch with me and my office. We’ll be happy to look at your case and see what support we can provide.”
👏 Nominations have opened for the 2027 Grand Pride Of Sefton Awards as the spotlight is put onto local heroes once more. The awards culminate in a ceremony at The Grand and judges are looking to recognise worthy winners of all ages from across Sefton, in a wide range of categories. Among the 2026 winners were Queenscourt Hospice founder Karen Groves MBE, marathon man Sergio Aguiar, lifesaving car park attendant Liam Howard, and crafty postbox toppers Southport Hookers. The event is organised by Mikhail Hotel and Leisure Group and Stand Up For Southport, with media support from In Demand Radio and sponsors are also sought for the awards which run across 13 categories. Stand Up For Southport Director Andrew Brown said: “I am always astonished to read some of the stories we receive for the Grand Pride Of Sefton Awards. People in Southport, Bootle, Crosby, Formby, Maghull and elsewhere are doing some extraordinary things, in such a selfless way, for the benefit of others. They are the unsung heroes, but our community wouldn’t be what it is without them. Now we need your help! Please message us and let us know who deserves to be honoured at a glittering night of celebration at The Grand. Do you know that unsung hero who does so much to help others? Someone who has shown bravery or courage? A school you’re proud of? A local sporting hero? Someone making a name in the arts world? A person making a difference to a local charity? Please let us know! Nominating is easy, either through our Grand Pride Of Sefton Awards website or through email: standupforsouthport@gmail.com. We look forward to seeing all your nominations.”
Southport FC manager Mark Duffy leaves club after far-right social account emerges
By Jamie Lopez
Southport FC’s owners have been praised for parting ways with manager Mark Duffy after a series of hateful social media posts were made public.
Duffy spent less than three weeks as permanent manager of the club - holding the position for less time than anyone else appointed in the Sandgrounders’ near-140 year history.
The club announced the decision in a brief statement on Tuesday (20 October) afternoon making no reference to the reasoning behind the decision which came hours after Duffy was seen seemingly on club duty.
It said: “Southport Football Club can confirm that Mark Duffy has left his position as First Team Manager following the mutual termination of his contract.
“The club would like to thank Mark for his efforts and wish him all the best for the future.”
After Southport fell to a poor 2-0 defeat to fellow National League North strugglers Radcliffe on Saturday, attention among fans was drawn to Duffy’s X account in which he repeatedly expressed support for far-right figures such as Tommy Robinson and sent abusive messages to government figures.
Once the matter was raised and condemned on fans forum Port Chat, posts including one which referred to the former Prime Minister Keir Starmer as a “pedo loving creature” were deleted but many others remained. He also regularly shared content, often quoted with heart or clapping emojis from far right figures such as Tommy Robinson who helped share lies and conspiracy theories around the time of the Southport riots.
While many of the posts may not have been sufficient to cost Duffy his job in a lot of workplaces, it clashed with the efforts owners Dave Cunningham and Keiran Malone have made to position the club at the heart of the community.
The pair have been in situ for less than a year-and-a-half and have held two charity matches to raise money for the families affected by the attack which took place in 2024 - both of which Duffy played in.
Having taken over when the club was on the brink of collapse following the tenure of the Big Help Project and Peter Mitchell - both of whom are facing multiple investigations - they’ve sought to reposition the club as family friendly and would not have looked kindly on on having it associated with this kind of content
Among the reports on Duffy’s feed were a post from Ben Habib, who set up the far right Advance UK party, which was critical of the move to lock up those who rioted in 2024.
When the killer behind the attacks was jailed in January 2025, Starmer posted a message offering condolences and support to the victims of the attack while promising to get answers on how it could have happened, Duffy replied: “Horrible vile person. Just leave”
Though the club so far declined to expand on the circumstances behind his sacking, the timing tells its own story. In recent interviews, Duffy had been explicit that he expected to remain as manager long-term but the club had been contacted for comment about Duffy’s posts hours before the announcement was made.
His X feed has since been made private and then deleted.
Southport MP Patrick Hurley was among those glad to see the action taken by the Cunningham and Malone. He said: “I welcome the decision taken by Southport FC. It can’t have been an easy one, but the club owners have done the right thing.
“Southport FC is much more than a football club. It’s part of the fabric of our town, bringing together people of all ages and backgrounds who share a love for the club and for Southport.
“People in positions of leadership have a responsibility to set an example, and to recognise that what they say and do can have an impact well beyond themselves. What the club manager says and does in public reflects on the club and reflects on the town, whether he intends to or not.
