Eaden the man for Hednesford

Hednesford Town have appointed Nicky Eaden as the club’s new first team manager.

Eaden, 45, will be assisted by Gary Hayward – with both joining the club with immediate effect as they look to work towards their first game in-charge when Farsley Celtic visit Keys Park on New Year’s Day.

He said: “I’m looking forward to getting to getting going. Some people are perhaps surprised that I would take a job at this level but I see Hednesford as a great club and opportunity to create something really good.

“My first management job, with Nuneaton, could be best described as challenging but after speaking to people here at Hednesford I could tell that the set-up here was right. I’m very much looking forward to getting the club moving in the right direction again and playing good football.

“I feel as if I have a good mix with myself and Gaz - he is very experienced in the non-league game and with both our contacts that we possess we feel that we can create a good team.”

The new Pitman manager had a distinguished football career as a player – making over 550 professional appearances both in the Football League and Premier League for Barnsley, Birmingham City, Wigan Athletic and Nottingham Forest.

Eaden, a UEFA Pro Licenced Coach, moved into management in 2009 when he became assistant to Mark Cooper at Kettering, following the former Hednesford man to Peterborough United.

Spells at Rotherham United, Tamworth and Kettering followed before he was appointed as a coach at Leicester City Under 21s – a position Eaden would undertake for almost four years before positions at Rotherham, Coventry City and Chesterfield followed.

In June 2018 he was appointed as manager of National League North side Nuneaton Borough but financial constraints saw him leaving the Warwickshire side in November before linking up with the Pitmen.

Hayward meanwhile brings with him experience of the non-league game having managed both Eastwood Town and Worksop Town before assisting Eaden at Nuneaton.

Where next?

Skelton returns to Workington as manager Workington have appointed Gavin Skelton as their new manager for his third spell at Borough Park, starting with immediate effect.
Saturday's transfer list - December 29 Player movements registered with the EVO-STIK League from Sunday 23 December to 11am on Saturday 29 December 2018.

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