South Shields managerial pair sign long-term club contracts

GRAHAM Fenton wants to ensure South Shields continue their rapid rise up the non-league pyramid after committing his long-term future to the club.

It was announced yesterday that Fenton and fellow joint-manager Lee Picton had agreed to sign five-year contracts with the Mariners.

The deals will keep the management duo at the club until the summer of 2023 as they oversee the club’s first-team and Academy.

Since being appointed in September 2016, Fenton and Picton have won two league titles and four cups, including their FA Vase final win in 2017.

Their preparations for the new Evo-Stik Premier League season continued this week with the release of four players.

FA Vase winner Alex Nicholson, former Toon academy player Jamie Holmes, young striker Aksel Juul and Luke Sullivan have all been released.

Experienced Darlington duo Chris Hunter and Gary Brown have joined the club and it seems likely their next signing will be a striker.

Fenton believes the new contracts are “huge” for Picton and himself and insisted they will give their all to take the club closer to its target of the Football League by the time the deals expire.

Fenton said: “These new contracts are a big commitment from both ourselves and the club.

“We are delighted the club have have offered us that length of contract because it shows huge faith in us. We want to be a part of the trajectory the club is going on, which is positive at both first-team and Academy level.”