Chairman role gone as Port look to the future
SOUTHPORT this week took the unusual decision to retire the role of chairman within the club. The Haig Avenue outfit, currently just one point outside the relegation places after Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to FC United of Manchester, announced on Monday that James Treadwell relinquished his role of chairman “with immediate effect” and would instead serve on the board of directors.
In a statement released to the local press, Southport also announced the appointment of Natalie Atkinson in the newly created role of CEO at the club and backed her to help move the ambitious new regime forwards as they “aim for the Football League.”
Atkinson had worked in the same role at fellow National League North club Curzon Ashton for the past 18 months, and is also a member of the National League Board.
She also has experience as the Football Development Manager at the Manchester FA, and as the National Governing Body Manager at Merseyside Sports Partnership.
A spokesman for the Southport board said: “From the outset, our goal was always to take the football club full time off the pitch and bring a level of professionalism needed to take the club forward as quickly as possible.
“Natalie brings with her a wealth of experience and an envious track record of success in many areas, all of which our club needs to massively improve upon.
“Her enthusiasm and determination is infectious and we know she is absolutely the right person to lead the football club off the pitch.”
“Natalie will be working on a full time basis, and will have responsibility for the running of the football club, under the guidance of the board, from top to bottom.
“Natalie will be working to take a number of projects forward for us including community and schools engagement, charitable status, fan engage-