Spartans appoint Wade

Blyth Spartans can announce that following the resignation of Paddy Atkinson on Friday Tom Wade will be taking charge of the team for the rest of the season.

Tom has managerial experience having previously managed Harrogate in the Blue Square North Division as well as local sides Gateshead and Newcastle Blue Star and assisted former manager Paddy Atkinson during his time at Spartans.

Spartans Chairman Tony Platten commented "Following a Board meeting on Monday evening I met with Tom this morning and am delighted to say that he has agreed to take over until the end of the season. He knows the players and I think he can stabilise us on the pitch and build on our recent fine win at Kendal Town. Tom is already on the lookout for a coach to work alongside him and I will be going to training tonight to inform the players and hopefully we can all move forward as one."

Wade himself said "I am delighted to have been offered the role of manager of the club until the end of the season. The brief I have been given is to continue on with all the hard work Paddy has put into the job, work with the exisiting players until the end of the season and look for an improvment in both the current form and league position. We were excellent against Kendal and we are looking at that game as the bench mark which we cannot drop below. I will be looking for a coach to help out and that's my priority as well as getting the lads ready for a big game at Croft Park against Ilkeston on Saturday. It is a massive honour to be asked to take on such a job with my boyhood club and I will give it my best shot".