Samuel had won only one game in his 12-game spell in charge – his first job as a manager.
Club secretary Graeme Auger told the Star: “I can confirm that Marvin Samuel has been relieved of his duties. I had word late last night that he had gone. The board went on the basis that we had had such a long losing run.”
Hawks co-owner Tommy Cunningham is due to land in England today (Thursday) from a holiday in Tenerife, and will take charge of the side for Saturday’s Ryman division one north trip to Northwood.
“Tommy will take over for Saturday. He is on his way back from Tenerife. It is not known at this stage whether he will remain in charge of the team for the rest of the season,” said Auger. “All I know is he will take the side Saturday.”
Assistant boss Clasford Stirling has also been fired and Samuel expects centre-half Jason Walker and striker Wayne Grant to move on.
He was the second Hawks boss appointed by then chief executive Carol Bothwell in the space of five months.
She had appointed another rookie boss Anthony Anstead in July, but his side only won two league matches.
The arrival of former fans favourite Samuel was heralded in December but despite the arrival of more than 20 new players, the colourful-haired and charismatic character was unable able to turn around Harlow’s fortunes.
The side’s only win came against Romford over the busy Christmas and New Year period of games.
However, Samuel has certainly not had his share of luck.
Even on Tuesday the side hit a post and missed a penalty and could have led 2-1, but eventually went down 3-1 to East Thurrock United.
This defeat meant Harlow have won just once in their last 21 matches. They have won three matches from 29 this season.
The side are 15 points behind third-from-bottom Leyton with 13 games remaining.
Cunningham previously managed Hawks in the mid-2000s before taking up the role of director of football and appointing Ryan Kirby as first team manager.
If Cunningham, who has heavy work commitments running his sports agency business Platinum Sports Management, decides his commitments are too much to manage the team as well he could look to bring back Kirby, who is assistant manager to former Hawks boss Ian Allinson at Ryman premier Boreham Wood.
Alternatively he could look to give Lee Protheroe his first management job.
The defender, who signed for Harlow in January from Wealdstone, was unlucky not to get the manager’s job at Blue Square South side Welling United. He took over as caretaker manager at The Wings for a short spell in November.
Cunningham was contacted by the Star but was unavailable for comment at this stage.
Samuel’s departure comes as some surprise as Cunningham only said just over a fortnight ago that he would be given time to turn things around.
But with the trapdoor to the Essex Senior League looming large in front of Harlow Town, Cunningham and the board clearly felt they had to act now and must surely go for experience to ignite the flickering flame of survival at Barrows Farm.
