David Chadwick and Tom Conroy step up to new roles

We're delighted to announce that David Chadwick, previously the 1st Team coach has been promoted to Assistant Manager, following the recent departure of Brian Richardson. Continuing the theme of progression and continuity, Academy Manager Tom Conroy will become 1st Team coach.

On the appointments Neil Reynolds said

"I'm really keen to stress the importance of togetherness, and promoting internally where it's merited, Tom Conroy has been around the 1st team squad before and has been supporting me the whole time I've been here, so it's straightforward for him to step up.

In close season Chaddy and I had a conversation about his progression, and things he needed to work on for his own professional development, so that if Brian did move on he'd be in a good place to step up.

We get on really well and I trust him implicitly, the lads all respect and trust him, so for me, the time is right to promote David Chadwick to be the Assistant Manager of FC United.

I'm looking forward to working with them both in their new roles, and they'll complement the work that Chappy, Mike, Matty and Charlie currently do within the coaching set-up"

David, or Chaddy or the "Nutter in the middle" as he's also known, didn't need to think twice when Neil Reynolds called him with the offer

"Like everyone I was gutted when Brian left, he's got so much knowledge, is so well respected and I would like to think that when I'm 85 I have the same level of passion that he still has. I've had experience of management both at FC and also at Chorley when I was the manager of their successful Under 21's, we won the league and the players were getting first team opportunities, but the pull of FC was too much to be able to resist when the call came, it's been a part of my life since 2005 and hopefully for a long time to come.

Obviously I helped out when Tom (Greaves) left and when Reno came in he was keen that I stayed on as 1st team coach, and we'd discussed me becoming Assistant Manager at some point in the future, so when he rang to offer me the position this week I accepted it straight away.

Neil and I both really want to win, not at all costs, but we both have that passion to succeed, so while we're similar in that way, in person I'm quite reserved, and have learnt a huge amount from Brian in terms of communication.

I can't wait to get started, this is an exciting opportunity for me and I'm looking forward to the challenge"

On his change in role, Tom Conroy said. 

"It's great news, the gaffer caller me in to explain that Chaddy had been offered the Assistant Managers role, and told me that he'd like to bring me into the first team set-up having watched me closely over the last year work with the academy. 

I'm over half way through my UEFA A-licence, and have had a taste of the first team set-up over the years and got the bug for it, so I'm over the moon to be able to be part of it full-time now"

Please join us in congratulating David and Tom, and if you're going to Blyth on Saturday you'll see them both in the dugout.