BAY BOSS NASH’S OFF IN A FLASH TO ROBINS
MANAGER Marc Nash has left his position at Northern League Division One club Whitley Bay to move to their North Tyneside rivals North Shields.
Nash replaces Brian Smith as Robins boss after he left the club on Monday and will be joined by two members of his backroom staff, with assistant Anthony Woodhouse and coach Chris Moore also moving to the Daren Persson Stadium.
Woodhouse will replace Gary Ormston, who has stepped down from the role but will stay with the club as a player.
Nash leaves the Seahorses seventh place in the table and took charge of North Shields for the first time for the visit of Jarrow Roofing yesterday.
A club statement confirmed: “We regret to announce that the management team of Marc Nash, Anthony Woodhouse and Chris Moore along with assistant coach Graeme Coulson have left Whitley Bay to join North Shields. We would like to thank them all for their contribution to the management of the club since taking over in November 2016.”
On getting his man, Robins chairman Alan Matthews beamed: “We’re delighted to make these appointments. All three have a wealth of experience and are aware of our hopes for the future of the club. I’d like to personally extend a warm welcome to all of them.”
And in a statement, the club added: “The club would like to thank the former management team for the service they have given the club, and we wish them well for the future.”
Bay are not the only top-end Division One side to announce a managerial departure this week with rivals Morpeth Town confirming that joint-manager Dave Malone will leave the club at the end of the season.
Malone cited work and family commitments for the reasons behind his decision, bringing an end to his four-year stay at Craik Park, which saw him lift the FA Vase at Wembley in 2016 alongside co-boss Nick Gray.
Speaking to the club’s website he said: “I have come to a very difficult decision and will be leaving Morpeth at the end of this season.
“I have made this decision as I don’t think I can give the 100% commitment the club needs with family and work commitments and I have decided that football doesn’t win on this occasion.
"I have enjoyed four great years at this great club and leading the club out at Wembley will live with me forever, while seeing the club rise from fighting relegation to fighting for the title gives me great satisfaction.”