Five-year deals for managers

Joint managers Lee Picton and Graham Fenton have committed their long-term futures to South Shields by signing new five-year contracts.

The deals will keep the management duo at Mariners Park until the summer of 2023 as they continue to oversee the club’s first-team and 16-19 academy programme.

Picton and Fenton took over the running of the first-team in September 2016, and have since gone on to achieve remarkable success.

Two league titles, two promotions and three further cup wins have been secured, while numerous club records have been broken.

Picton said: “We’re delighted that (chairman) Geoff Thompson, (managing director) Keith Finnigan and the club as a whole are willing to show this level of commitment in us.

“To get the opportunity to build over quite a long period of time with the solid foundations the club has put together over the last three years or so, is an unbelievable opportunity for us and one that we’re absolutely relishing over the next few years.

“There is expectation and pressure at the club, like a lot of clubs, but it’s a good expectation and good pressure.”

Fenton said: “We’ve put a lot of work into the first-team and the Academy, and we’re hoping that both sides of the club continue to progress and get better.”