Leek rebuild after loss of Baker

Leek Town Director of Football Neil Baker has left his role at Harrison Park to return to Crewe Alexandra as assistant manager to Steve Davis following the resignation of Dario Gradi.

Baker rejoined Leek in the summer after a 16-year spell at Crewe although he retained his role at Gresty Road as Chief Scout.

Blues’ Chairman Andrew Wain moved quickly to fill the gap by handing the reins to the remaining management team of Lee Caswell, Kenny Scragg and Kenny Birch-Machin whilst Baker’s son-in-law, Matt Beeby has also joined the team.

Commenting on Baker’s departure, Blues’ Chairman Andrew Wain said, “We are sorry to see Neil Baker go but we fully understand the reasons behind his decision.

“We’d like to thank Neil for everything he did both on and off the pitch since returning to Harrison Park in the summer. We’d also like to thank Crewe Alexandra for allowing him to take on the role at Leek whilst continuing with his duties as Chief Scout at Gresty Road.

“The offer to Neil in his new role as assistant manager was one he had to take and we all wish him well in that new role.

“In the post-Baker period, basically nothing will change in the immediate future. The board are fully behind Lee Caswell and the management team who will continue to build on the foundations laid down by Neil over the last five months”, he added

Thomas departs

Leek Town said farewell to midfielder Michael Thomas on Saturday after a successful 3-month loan spell at Harrison Park.

Thomas, who has returned to Macclesfield Town after completing a maximum 93 day stint, made 20 appearances during his time with Leek.

Blues’ boss Lee Caswell will no doubt look to fill the gap from within with young defender Aden Johnson who was unfortunate to miss out on starting in the home win over Quorn on Saturday after filling in for the suspended Thomas in the previous three games.

Veteran winger Wayne Corden was recalled to the squad at the weekend following a short spell at Eccleshall and he made an appearance from the bench in the win over Quorn on Saturday – out of favour striker Dorryl Proffitt has moved in the opposite direction.

Defender Ben Nixon returns to the squad for the trip to Rainworth on Tuesday after attending a family wedding whilst striker Dwayne Spence has been a no-show since the club resolved his nationality status and registered him with the league.

Meanwhile, striker Dan Cope undergoes long-awaited surgery on his knee on Monday (14 Nov) after picking up the injury in the last game of last season whilst Richard Minor’s scan has identified damage to his knee that requires surgery.

Coming up

Leek Town travel to struggling Rainworth on Tuesday looking to extend their unbeaten away record in league action this season.

Rainworth are currently bottom markers in the first Division South with just 11 points from 17 games during which they have found the net just 9 times but they will be looking for victory over Blues after completing the double over them last term.

New manager Kevin Gee has moved into the transfer market to sign Stephen Akers from Mickleover Sports and Ben Spargo from Belper Town.

Meanwhile, Blues face a stiff test at high flying Sheffield FC on Saturday as they look to climb the table after falling behind in league games due to their FA Cup an FA Trophy exploits.

Sheffield sit third in the table with 32 points from 17 games but Blues have four games in hand.

Spectators are advised that there is no official transport to either of these games.