Lewis Hardcastle appointed new Avro boss
Avro have named Warrington Rylands first team coach Lewis Hardcastle as their new manager.
Hardcastle takes over from Grant Shenton, who left the NPL Premier Division high-flyers earlier this month to take charge of National League North side Radcliffe.
Hardcastle enjoyed two stints as part of the Blues' backroom team.
After a heart issue forced him to hang up his boots at the age of 22, he was brought to the club by Michael Clegg in February 2023.
After following Clegg to Macclesfield little over a year later, Hardcastle returned to the Rylands coaching staff to work under Neil Reynolds in September 2024.
On the appointment, Hardcastle said: "I feel like I've gathered all my knowledge now, and I'm ready for the step up. I feel like now is the right time.
“It's a tight-knit group. The togetherness within the club is something I want to be a part of. It's the perfect opportunity.”
Hardcastle - whose brother Ben currently plays for the Blues - will take charge of Avro for the first time this Saturday when they travel to Ilkeston Town, who are also under new management in Ryan Hindley.
During his time at the Vestacare Stadium, Hardcastle will be assisted by Jack Hindle.
"Lewis was someone who we identified early on as having the potential to become our next manager," chairman Rob Fuller said.
"He has a great pedigree first as a player, and more recently through the experience which he has gained in assistant manager roles at Atherton Collieries, Macclesfield and Rylands.
"We felt the time was right for him to take the reins as a number one, and we think he is a perfect fit for Avro Football Club at this stage of our journey.
‘We have a talented, ambitious squad at Avro, and we believe this appointment gives us an excellent opportunity to build on the progress made in recent seasons and continue moving the club forward."