Paul has the Wright stuff as he joins Leek backroom
LEEK Town have added to their backroom staff after welcoming Paul Wright to the club.
Wright joins boss Neil Baker’s team as joint assistant manager to work alongside Pete Ward.
Wright is well known in local non-league circles, both as a player and coach.
He was appointed as Rocester manager in September 2019 after leaving his role at Staffs County Senior League side Eastwood Hanley to take the job.
Wright played for Rocester for two years in the mid-1990s and his arrival at the club sparked an upturn in fortunes before the coronavirus pandemic decimated grassroots sport.
They were moved from the Midland League to the North West Counties for last season as part of a big restructure of the non-league game.
However, a poor start to the campaign saw Wright depart Hillsfield in September before he joined Newcastle Town’s backroom staff under Robin Van der Laan.
He has now switched to Leek Town, who play in the Northern Premier League West Division with Castle.
Wright’s appointment follows the decision of Jamie Cullerton - who worked alongside Baker and Ward to step down at the end of the season.
“Paul was influential in the resurgence of Eastwood before moving on to Rocester,” said Blues chairman Jon Eeles.
“He’s a UEFA B qualified coach and knows the local game very well. He also had exposure to Step Four football with Newcastle last season and he’s a good appointment, a great addition for us.
“We have a strong backroom team with Neil, Pete and Paul, as well as Steve Pardoe, who has been working hard on scouting.”
Wright joins a Leek Town side who were beaten in the West Division play-off semifinals by Runcorn Linnets in the 2021/22 season.
Blues lost 4-1 at home to Linnets, who were then beaten by Marine in the final.
Leek have had little time to draw breath as plans have quickly been put in place for next season, which will see them compete in the same division.
Baker is hoping to strengthen his squad for the new season and talks have already taken place with potential targets.
“Neil is not after five or six players, he wants two or three quality additions,” explained Eeles.
“He has identified where he wants to strengthen and has been working really hard on that.
“We’ve also spoken to the players from last season and have renewed the contracts of those with options and hopefully the rest of them will stay as well.
“Our bench at the end of last season probably wasn’t as strong as we would like, so we’re aiming to get 16 players who can all be part of the starting 11.”
The division looks set to be
even stronger next season as Leek look to make the step up.
They were top of the division twice in recent years before the pandemic caused the seasons to be declared null and void.
And that was followed up by this year’s play-off heartbreak.
“Macclesfield have come up from the North West Counties League and will be the standout team,” added Eeles.
“There will be pressure on them, though, to win automatic promotion.
“Warrington Rylands and Marine, two strong sides, have been promoted, and we’ve lost Kendal and Market Drayton, who have been relegated.
“Hanley Town and Skelmersdale are joining the division, so it will be stronger, but hopefully we won’t be far off the top end again.”