New manager thanks players and fans

Wayne Thornhill has thanked his players and the fans at Gresley for helping him to win the right to manage the EVO-STIK Northern Premier League club on a permanent basis.

After guiding the First Division South club to seven wins from nine since stepping up as caretaker manager in the wake of Martin Rowe’s departure in September, Thornhill, pictured, was confirmed as his successor at lunchtime on Tuesday.

In a statement released by the Moatmen, officials said the decision to appoint the 35-year-old was taken on Monday night following a final round of interviews with other candidates. Defender and club captain Jamie Barrett and Russell Peel, who’ve been aiding Thornhill since his interim appointment, were also confirmed in their posts as assistant managers and coaches.

Thornhill played for the club between 1998-2000 and returned in the summer of 2013 as first team coach under Rowe before stepping up to become assistant manager when Richard Butler left. The former assistant manager at Borrowash Victoria has taken the club to third in the table and he hailed his squad and the fans in the Burton Mail ahead of Tuesday night's First Division South clash at home to Sheffield FC.

Thornhill said: "They have been fantastic. We haven't had a manager and it's through their determination that we have got into the position that we are, in the play-off spots. I have worked hard with them and they've responded well and the fans have been fantastic too.

"They have been very supportive of us and what we've been trying to do. But we know we have a few more fans to win back to get those crowds back up to what we want them to be and get more people into the ground.

"Obviously, I'm very pleased to take the position. It's quite an exciting time to be at Gresley. We are looking at advancing the club with the new stadium plans and we're looking to replicate that on the pitch.

"Our good run has been down to the players. We've worked on getting them to believe in themselves, and organising them into a shape and system that suits us best."

He added: "We have players now playing in what I think is fair to call their best positions. We've chosen particular tactics to suit particular games and as I've said on numerous occasions after games, we've just taken it one game at a time, looking at each one closely."

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