By Mark Carruthers
National League North club Blyth Spartans have confirmed the appointment of Graham Fenton as their new manager.
The former Blackburn Rovers and Aston Villa star will return to Croft Park for the first time in 13 years after spending time as a player, caretaker manager and assistant manager during his previous spell with the club.
Fenton's managerial career got underway at North Shields in 2012 and he led the Robins to promotion into Ebac Northern League Division One, an FA Vase Final win over Glossop North End and a Northumberland Senior Cup Final win against Spartans during his four-year reign at the Daren Persson Stadium.
Further success followed when Fenton crossed the Tyne in September 2016 to take over at South Shields and he enjoyed a dream first year on South Tyneside.
Working alongside joint-manager Lee Picton, the Mariners claimed the Ebac Northern League title and completed a historic quadruple by landing the Durham Challenge Cup, Northern League Cup and, memorably, the FA Vase with a 4-0 Wembley win over Cleethorpes Town.
Promotion into the Northern Premier League Premier Division was secured as North Division champions 12 months later but the Mariners suffered play-off heartache in 2019 as Warrington Town ended their hopes of a third consecutive promotion.
Fenton and Picton looked set to lead the club to a Premier Division title win in 2020 as they moved 12 points clear of title rivals FC United of Manchester with just nine games remaining.
However, the Football Association's decision to declare the season as void when Covid-19 put a halt on games around the country saw promotion cruelly denied once again.
Fenton remained at the 1st Cloud Arena until January this year – but he will now return to the dugout after being named as successor to former Spartans manager Terry Mitchell.
After his appointment was confirmed, Fenton told the club website: “I'm excited and looking forward to getting going. I had a really good seven years here last time and looking forward to seeing some familiar faces.
“I'm looking forward to the challenge. The supporters are fantastic, and hopefully we can repay them with some good results.”
Chairman Tony Platten added, “It goes without saying that I am delighted that we have secured the services of Graham Fenton to manage the Club.
“We received over 70 applications but Graham's was the standout applicant in all areas.”
Fenton will take charge of his first game at Croft Park on Saturday when Spartans host Gloucester City.
