Parting tribute to ex-manager Ward

Loughborough Dynamo chairman Darren Rodgers has paid tribute to Peter Ward in a statement confirming his weekend exit from the EVO-STIK League's Nailers was amicable.

Rodgers hailed the efforts of the former Belper Town, Kidsgrove Athletic, Lancaster City, Nantwich Town and Newcastle Town boss after his number two Lee Attenborough was named as his successor on Saturday within hours of his departure from the Nanpantan Sports Ground.

Explaining Ward's decision to step down after more than a year and a half at the helm following his appointment in December 2016, Rodgers said: “An agreement was made at the start of the 2017-18 season that Lee Attenborough would be Peter Ward’s assistant for a season, then step up as joint manager. This was confirmed in a meeting earlier in the week.

“However, Peter told me on Thursday night that, after a lot of thought, he felt it was the right time to move on and hand over to Lee. Consequently, Peter has now left our club. On behalf of everyone connected with Loughborough Dynamo we want to thank Peter for all he has done for us.

Touchline team: Peter Ward,  Jay Groocock, Lee Attenborough and press officer John Bryson

Touchline team: Peter Ward, Jay Groocock, Lee Attenborough and press officer John Bryson

"Peter took over just after Christmas 2016 at a difficult time for the club, as we were fighting relegation. Under Peter’s leadership we had our own ‘great escape’, winning the last four games of which three were away to avoid relegation a year ago. This season Peter has overseen an improvement of six places and fifteen points on our previous campaign."

He added: “We wish Peter all the very best for the future, and we were very pleased to announce that Lee Attenborough has stepped up to the manager’s position. Our first team coach Jay Groocock has now become our assistant manager. We think we have one of the youngest, if not the youngest ever, manager and assistant manager duo in the history of the league, as both Lee and Jay are in their 20s."

In his first statement since his promotion to guide the club in the new EVO-STIK League East Division from August, Attenborough said: “I am very grateful to the directors of Loughborough Dynamo to be given this opportunity. I also want to say a big thank you to Peter, as I learnt so much working with him in this past season. It’s great to have Jay as my number two, and I intend to add to my management team soon."

A former Dynamo player whose career was cut short by injury, Attenborough teamed up with Ward in the summer of 2017 after kicking off his management career at the helm of Leicestershire Senior League Premier Division outfit Sileby Town before switching to East Midlands Counties League Ashby Ivanhoe.

Images courtesy of @lborodynamofc/Twitter

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