Only last week, Bluebirds owner Paul Casson insisted that Edmondson would still be the club’s manager in May.
But the alarmingly limp nature of AFC’s performance on Saturday which saw them suffer a 1-0 FA Cup fourth-qualifying round defeat at Fylde – a side who now play a level below National League side Barrow – has suddenly brought matters to a head.
And now the manager’s Holker Street future has been cast into serious doubt.
It is believed Casson was shocked by Saturday’s poor display, while he fears that Edmondson is beginning to lose the support and confidence of fans.
It is understood that Casson will make a final decision on whether Edmondson will remain in his job following Barrow’s home league clash with Woking on Saturday, November 28.
That is of course assuming that Casson does not act sooner, should Barrow suffer poor results over the coming few weeks, or that Edmondson does not quit.
Casson intends to be present at the Woking game, with plans to also take in their earlier midweek home game with Grimsby Town on November 10.
Edmondson has been informed about the one-month time-frame and is set to hold talks with a club director to discuss the situation.
It is also understood that Casson may suspend any transfer activity during this period.
Casson has already shown his ruthless streak this season by ordering the exit of coach Paul Murray before holding talks with Edmondson to discuss the club’s underwhelming start to the campaign.
Barrow subsequently earned a superb 1-0 victory over Eastleigh on September 5.
Having armed Edmondson with what he believes to be a competitive National League budget, and in the wake of Saturday’s big setback, Casson is thought to be worried about the club’s lack of progression having gone full-time and made squad improvements following their Conference North title success.
He is also concerned over the lack of entertaining football being served up.
The Bluebirds sit 15th in the table and, after 18 league games, they have yet to string together back-to-back victories.
At the start of the season, Casson hoped that Barrow could eventually fight in the top half of the table and be ‘in the play-off conversation’.
Despite his recent show of faith in Edmondson – in public at least – the US-based millionaire is also thought to hold concerns over the average nature of the club’s National League performance thus far.
Although, despite Barrow’s very patchy form, they still only trail the final play-off spot by five points.
The fact that Barrow have exited the FA Cup at their first hurdle for the second successive season – having suffered a shock 1-0 home loss against underdogs Runcorn Town last year – would no doubt have irked Casson.
The club also tumbled out of the FA Trophy at their first hurdle in that competition last term, going down 3-0 at Worcester City.
But after being appointed as Barrow boss in December 2013, Edmondson has achieved plenty of success on the league front, leading Barrow to safety and to an 11th-placed finish at the end of the 2013/14 campaign.
Following Casson’s AFC takeover, Edmondson then led Barrow to the Conference North title last season, pipping Fylde to the ultimate prize thanks to a 3-2 final-day victory at Lowestoft Town.
But Barrow have been painfully inconsistent this season with excellent results, such as the 1-0 victories over Tranmere and Eastleigh, being mixed with poor ones, including the 3-1 and 1-0 defeats at lowly duo Halifax and Altrincham respectively.
A few of Edmondson’s summer signings – including Mo Fofana and Ashley Grimes – have yet to make a significant impact although the likes of goalkeeper Joel Dixon and Neil Ashton have made their presence felt after making the switch to Furness.
The Bluebirds will continue their league campaign at ninth-placed Wrexham on Saturday.
Some observers may believe that Edmondson deserves more time to develop and to improve his squad.
But Casson must ultimately decide whether he feels Edmondson possesses the ability or potential to help the club achieve their lofty future goals.
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