News

Barrett will join Norton and former Gresley FC/Rovers favorite Carl Slater on the management team after last night agreeing terms to become player coach for the club. Jamie will also retain the club captaincy.

Ironically Slater and Barrett were Norton’s first signings when the club was formed in its current guise after the liquidation of Gresley Rovers and that’s a point not lost on Gresley’s new manager.

Commenting on the news Gary Norton told the club website, “Carl and I are delighted that Jamie has agreed to join us on the management side of things as well as from a playing perspective. Both Carl and Jamie were my first signings when the club reformed nine years ago and it’s quite ironic that the same thing has happened again this time round.

"I’m delighted how the backroom team is shaping up and it’s a bonus that Jamie will continue playing as we get to keep his huge experience out there on the pitch. Carl will also register as a player and will provided huge experienced on the pitch as and when needed.

He added, "Jamie and I have been speaking via text for the last couple of weeks and we agreed to meet up last night for a chat. I outlined the club's immediate plans on and off the pitch and our desire to try and bring the buzz back to the Moat Ground and he was excited about the prospect of being involved in helping us do that.

"Gresley is Jamie’s club at heart and how last season ended is still something that disappoints him but he can see the renewed buzz around the place on and off the pitch and so agreed to join Carl and I on the management team. I want to finalise our backroom team as soon as I can. Given the fact Jamie will be playing regularly and Carl when needed we plan to add another member to the coaching team and will discuss that when we meet together next week. I also am in talks with a potentially experienced physio I hope to persuade to join us in the coming days."

Norton revealed that he has a number of other meetings planned with potential recruits in the coming weeks as he tries to rebuild the Gresley squad literally from nothing. He added, “When we agreed to take the job last Thursday night we knew it would be a big challenge to put together what in effect will be a brand new team from scratch. We are fortunate to have a few of our Reserve team lads from last season who could potentially make the step up now and some others who with a bit of development could soon be in the mix and we also have the likes of Lucas Harrison and Ryan King who have verbally agreed that they will sign for the club next season which we are delighted about.

"We plan to hold talks with the likes of Matt Roome and Mark Branch in the near future to try and persuade them both to sign again as well as a number of other local lads who have indicated they wish to join or return to the club. Things are slowly but surely beginning to take shape and once our playing budget is formally confirmed at next week’s board meeting we can start putting further pieces of the squad jigsaw in place”.