New duo take the helm at Town’s first team Management pair unveiled by Runcorn
RUNCORNTOWN.CO.UK
RUNCORN Town have confirmed the appointment of Niall McGuinness and Aden Shannon as their new first team management team.
Niall started his coaching career at Rhyl where he was academy director, before taking the role of first team manager in February 2016, where he became the youngest manager in a top-flight league across Europe.
He joined Flint Town United in November 2017 and helped them win the Huws Gray League Cup in his first season.
This was followed by two consecutive runnersup positions in the league, before earning promotion to the Welsh top-flight after a 22-year absence for the 2020/21 season.
After leaving Flint in December 2020, Niall had a brief spell at Cefn Druids and is now keen to get started in the English pyramid.
Aden was a prolific goalscorer in his playing days for clubs including Welshpool, Cefn Druids and Connah’s Quay, before moving into management at Conwy Borough in 2014 for whom he also played.
He then moved to Flint as a player under former Runcorn Town manager Chris Herbert, before being appointed firstteam manager at Flint when Herbert left to join Chester.
He subsequently moved into a head coach position at Flint and has recently been working with the Academy players at the club, particularly the U19s and U16s.
Niall and Aden both hold the prestigious UEFA ‘A’ Licence, and are looking forward to getting to know the players in both the first-team and development team squads.
McGuinness told the club’s official website: “I am delighted to be offered the role as joint manager of Runcorn Town Football Club. It is a club I’ve followed closely since my time in management and I’m excited to be leading this club.
“Myself and Aden plan to help progress the club both on and off the pitch and help the club to their ambition of getting to the next level. We will be working to improve our league position in the short term and work with the current squad to get the best out of them.
“I would like to thank Lindsay and the committee for selecting us as the right management team to move this club forward.
“We want the fans right behind us and the lads on Saturday as they are the most important thing to any football club and we hope that we can bring the enjoyment factor of football to them and enjoy the ride together. The journey starts now.”
Shannon said: “I am overwhelmed to be offered the joint managerial position at Runcorn Town Football Club. It is a fantastic club and I am very excited about the future.
“Myself and Niall are really looking forward to the challenge and feel we can help push the club forward on and off the pitch.
“We are also looking forward to working with the players and hopefully we will have the fans’ backing straight from the off as we will make sure we give them everything on the pitch. I’m looking forward to the journey ahead.”
Chairman Lindsay Berry said: “I am delighted with the appointment and excited about the future with Niall and Aden in charge.
“It is a great appointment for the club and the committee were unanimous in the decision.
“The club received 32 applicants for the post recently vacated by Paul McManus, interviewing six strong candidates including two former Northern Premier League managers, a former NWCFL manager and a manager currently riding high in a Step 7 League.
“We would like to thank all the applicants for their interest in the post. We would also like to place on record our immense thanks to senior players Adam Reid and John Shaw who have stepped in as interim managers for our last two games while the recruitment process took place.”