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Help for Frank
Story courtesy of Burton Mail
Frank Northwood has strengthened Gresley Rovers’ management team by drafting in former adversary Gerry Clarke.
Clarke was assistant boss at Rovers’ Banks’s League rivals Oldbury United, but left in the wake of the sacking of manager Ron Smart.He jumped at the chance to rejoin one of the league’s “big clubs” after an approach from Northwood last weekend.
“I’d worked for Ron Smart for about ten years at Darlaston and Oldbury,” said Clarke this week.
“There’s no way I could stay at Oldbury when Ron left, so it’s nice to get another chance with a club with Gresley’s reputation. I hope I can do my bit to help them win the title.”
Clarke has not been given an official title and, according to Northwood, will “do a bit of everything.”
He’ll be helping Steve Dolby out on the coaching side and will also be looking for new players with next season in mind,” said Northwood.
Said Clarke: “I know a lot of people and players at this level and I’ve also got contacts further up the scale who I hope to be putting to good use. The problem at this stage of the season is that good players are invariably tied up with clubs who are still in the running to win something, so it might be the case that I will be working more with next season in mind.”
Clarke put in his first appearance at the Moat Ground on Tuesday when Rovers demolished Eastwood Town in the Evans Halshaw floodlit competition.
A 5-2 win should be enough to put Gresley into the semi-final and, more importantly, should raise spirits after their recent attack of title jitters.
Now Northwood has set Rovers a target of six wins from their remaining eight league games.
He said: “The way things are going everyone is going to carry on dropping clangers. I reckon another 18 points should be enough to make us champions.”
