Marske United head coach departs

Working alongside manager Carl Jarrett, he has been a major part of the Seasiders’ rise up the non-league football pyramid.

They have enjoyed a positive start to life in the Northern Premier League following their promotion last season, having won five of their opening nine league games.

He will now become manager of the Railwaymen, who are currently 18th in the East Division following a run of seven defeats in eight league matches.

“I am absolutely delighted to be asked to manage Shildon AFC,” he said. “This is a fantastic opportunity to first and foremost move Shildon away from the bottom of the league but then to try and create a structure and legacy for the club to move forward.

“It was a hard decision to leave Marske as they have been a big part of my life for the last seven years.

“I can’t thank the club enough, and I hold the staff there in the highest regard, leaving Carl, who is by far the best manager and friend I have worked with and learnt so much from, was such a big decision, and if I am half as successful, we will be on the right track.

“I would like to thank all the players I have worked with past and present for their hard work and dedication as they were a huge part in the success we had.

“However, it is a new chapter and one I can’t wait to get started. The ambition for the Shildon AFC is huge, and I want everyone from the whole club to pull together and to play their part.

Shildon chairman David Dent added: "I’m absolutely delighted to have secured the services of Ian, who understands the potential of the club and wants to play a part over the next few years in realising our ambitions.

“From our first conversations I was impressed with his knowledge of players and the Northern Premier League, his coaching acumen, but more importantly his desire to win games of football.

“His first target is to get us up the league, and then we will jointly develop our plan to take the club onto another level, both on and off the pitch.”

Photo credit: Marske United