Chairman hail his new dream team

Named on Wednesday as the successor to Phil Parkinson after he stood down at the end of the season to take charge at Altrincham, the former assistant manager at Shrewsbury, pictured, will have Dabbers striker Steve Jones to call on as assistant manager and first-team coach along with Danny Griggs as assistant first-team coach.

Nantwich Town chairman Tony Davison – who’s also seen former Leek Town boss and respected FA coach Nigel Deeley arrive as a coach and coaching mentor this week – hailed Cooke and his management team after the EVO-STIK NPL Premier Division club moved swiftly to find a successor to Parkinson who took them to the semi-finals of the FA Trophy last season and the play-offs this time around with a fifth-placed finish.

In a statement to fans, the chairman at the Weaver Stadium said: “I am pleased Dave has accepted the role of manager. He has put together a very strong local team which I believe will give us the continuity we were looking for. We were very keen to build on the success of the past two years and I firmly believe that this new team will do just that.”

Cooke was also backed by a Dabbers spokesman who said the Cheshire club had received a numerous applications for their vacant manager and assistant manager posts following the departure of Parkinson and his number two Neil Sorvel to to rebuild Altrincham following their relegation from National League North.

The spokesman added: "The volume and standard of applications was very high and we sincerely thank everyone for their interest in the position. It was a difficult decision but one made easier by the strengths of the new management team as a combination, a team we believe will be successful after a comprehensive application and interview process.

"These appointments give fantastic continuity, experience, contacts and superb football knowledge – building on the excellent work of the last two seasons. The board are keen to ensure the heart of the team retains a local feel which the supporters can identify with, but with a management team that has the ability to attract the best quality players within Cheshire and Staffordshire and further afield when required."

Appointed as a coach two years ago by Parkinson, Griggs was a member of the famous 2006 FA Vase winning team while Jones is already UEFA A licenced and works full-time as a youth coach at Crewe Alexandra. As well as working with the Football Association in a senior role in talent ID, Deeley, also a UEFA A coach, runs the MMU Football Academy.

Image courtesy of crewechronicle.co.uk

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