Former Football League strikers appointed new Kidsgrove management duo

The news was confirmed following the announcement that Anthony Malbon could not continue his role as first-team manager, a position he has occupied since taking interim charge of the club in March 2024.

In a statement regarding his departure, a Kidsgrove Atheltic representative said: "Following our decline in the league table and with the team now only one point from safety, the club's board have made the decision to change the existing management team led by interim manager Jay Bateman.

"With manager Anthony Malbon in no position to return to the club, the board felt the time was right to make the change following defeats to Stafford Rangers and Chasetown.

“The club would like to place on record our thanks to Jay, Dom Ross, Alex and Gary for their efforts, especially Jay, having taken over the reins in extremely difficult circumstances.”

In their stead, former Lincoln City striker Matt Rhead and ex-Port Vale forward Tom Pope will now lead the club as player-managers until the end of the season.

Rhead, 40, returned to Kidsgrove in August 2024, two decades after making his debut at the club.

The experienced frontman, who scored 43 goals in 161 appearances for the Imps, has featured 23 times for the Grove, netting on seven occasions.

Pope, 39, joined the club ahead of the 2024/25 season, and has since made 18 appearances, scoring five times.

Widely considered a Port Vale legend, the talisman enjoyed two spells with the Valiants, finishing his career with the club in 2021 after becoming their second-ever highest goalscorer with 115 goals in 343 appearances.

Alongside this, Pope has also featured for the likes of Crewe Alexandra, Rotherham United and Bury.

The duo will take charge of their first game this Saturday when they travel to face Clitheroe in an important clash towards the bottom of the table in the NPL West Division.