Palmer beaten to Sports post

Mickleover Sports have finally appointed a permanent new management team with caretaker Charlie Palmer missing out at the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League club.

Glen Kirkwood and Craig Hopkins, pictured, were named over the weekend as the successors to Dick Pratley who left the Evo-Stik NPL First Division South Sports at the start of December after six successful years including back-to-back promotions at the Raygar Stadium.

Former Watford, Walsall, Derby County, Hull and Notts County defender Palmer took over in mid December and Sports say he was unfortunate to lose out to the duo after an 'exhaustive process' saw more than 20 candidates narrowed down to a short list of six, followed by 12 hours of interviews over the last two weeks.

The former Heanor Town joint managers are set to meet up with their new squad for the first time on Wednesday ahead of their first game in charge, away to Romulus next Saturday. Kirkwood and Hopkins are said to be ambitious and see Mickleover as a club they can take forward after working in the Northern Counties East League.

As a player, Kirkwood was with Eastwood Town, Doncaster Rovers, Ilkeston Town, Burton Albion, Matlock Town and Worksop Town. Hopkins turned out for the likes of King’s Lynn, Kettering Town, Ilkeston, Hednesford Town, Ossett Town and Matlock Town.

A club spokesman urged supporters to get behind their new joint managers before thanking caretaker manager Palmer who was a coach during the Pratley era for returning to the club to hold the fort in difficult circumstances.

He said: "They come with the full support from the club’s committee and we hope that our supporters get behind them from the beginning. Our sincere thanks to Charlie Palmer who stepped in as caretaker in a very difficult position. He did a good job and was only just pipped for the job as permanent manager. He has proved to be a true gentleman, despite his disappointment in not getting the job."