MARGINSON LANDS BORO ROLE
FORMER FC United manager Karl Marginson has accepted the newly created role of Head of Football Operations at Radcliffe FC.
Marginson, who spent 12 years in charge of the Red Rebels from its inception to October 2017, guiding the club from the North West Counties League to the National League North with four promotions.
Now, he has taken on a new role with another ambitious club, currently riding high in the Evo-Stik West Division after a disappointing season last term.
Announcing the appointment of 47-year-old Marginson, club chairman Paul Hilton said: “The club are constantly striving to improve all areas of the organisation and bringing consistency, organisation, sustainability and growth to the football operation which is a must if the club is continue progressing and capitalise on our great start to the season.
“In Karl, we have secured one of the few men in football who have traversed the path we wish to follow. Karl brings a wealth of expertise in the operational development of football at this level and in this role, he can help support and develop all operational areas of the club.
“The best time to improve is when you are doing well – and following our strategic review this is precisely what the club is doing. This is an exciting appointment for our club.
“The role will have a wide remit across the club, tasked with putting in place strategies and processes that ensure that the club continues to progress and prepare for the future, add a further layer of support for our valued employees and volunteers and build manageable goals to realise the vision of the board; to build a club that is successful and progressive on the field, developing young players and opportunity with the community of Radcliffe at its heart.”
No stranger to the club, Marginson played for the Boro between 2003-2005, making 58 appearances and scoring two goals, he has been working with the club’s academy since the turn of the year.
Of his new appointment, he added: “I had actually spoken to the club in an advisory capacity whilst I was still working at FC United as the board here were open to ideas of how they could develop the club from the youth department upwards.
“Having been here for the best part of a year as part of the academy coaching staff, it made sense to start working towards the future and even more so to build on the positivity of the first team being in such a healthy position in the league.
“The owners have a vision for the future for the club, that not only includes growing the club from the academy but to continue the great work that is already going on below the first team level.
“My role is to oversee and put in structures within the football side of the club, improving the pathway from the youth team through the reserve team to the first team, working with Jon (Macken) and Frank (Sinclair) and all the coaches at the club to enable that to happen.
“The role is one we developed at FC United when, as a brand-new club, we had to learn as we went along. Over the years I became Head of Football as well as first team manager, meaning that I was involved in all things football at the club. Having lived through that over the 12 years I was at the club, I am now in a position to pass on my experience to everyone at Radcliffe FC.
“There’s no reason why this club can’t aim to be in the National League North or above within the next few years, we have the right structure within the club, we have the potential to bring in decent crowds from a hugely populated area and starting to put these plans in place now makes perfect sense.”