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Frank goes West for a coach
Story courtesy of
Frank Northwood has not taken long to find a successor to Brian Attley as his second-in-command.
Attley’s departure to Stapenhill recently meant not only had Rovers lost a cultured full back of enormous ability but also a player coach.It appears that Northwood was largely content to leave training procedure to the former Derby County full back, while he got on with the business of recruitment.
Now he has found a new man to step into that role with the announcement that Glen ‘Pepsi’ West has been made assistant manager.
West made the short journey from Tamworth to the Moat Ground in January and immediately settled down to form a solid defensive partnership with Steve Dolby.
His performances since then and his experience as a coach have persuaded Northwood that he is the ideal candidate for the number two role.
West cut his soccer teeth in the old Southern League with Tamworth but moved soon after they went into the Northern Premier League.
He made the short trip down the A5 to link up with the then newly formed Atherstone United in Division One of the West Midlands League.
As player coach he was the on-field mastermind behind their climb into the Premier Division of the West Midlands League and played a major part in their run into the quarterfinals of the FA Vase.
After several successful seasons at Sheepy Road he left along with the management team of Dave Seedhouse and Peter Nicholls to revitalise the then ailing Tamworth.
But earlier this season he lost his place in the side when results started to run against the Staffordshire club and Northwood was quick to move in and secure the services of a player he has known and admired for some time.
A regular member of the Birmingham County FA representative side, he is also an FA coach and seems the ideal man to be Northwood’s lieutenant.