Pic: Stoke Sentinel
NEWCASTLE TOWN boss Ivan Lodge is recovering in hospital after having an emergency operation to remove a blood clot on his brain.
The 52-year-old was taken to the University Hospital of North Staffordshire hours after returning from a skiing holiday on Saturday night.
Castle lost 2-1 at home to local rivals Chasetown on Saturday in the Evo-Stik NPL Division One South and were then shocked by the news that Lodge had been hospitalised.
Lodge has been manager of Newcastle for two-and-a-half years and the club are currently 16th in the league after finishing third and losing out in the play-offs to Sutton Coldfield Town last season.
He is now recovering after the operation and brother-in-law Scott Dundas, who manages Alsager Town, told the Stoke Sentinel: “The operation went well and he has started physiotherapy and already there is an improvement in the movement in his arm and his speech is a lot better, which is an encouraging sign.
“It's something we didn't expect to happen. Ivan and I have been doing some training together and there was no indication there was anything wrong, but it just goes to show. It has been a massive shock to us all.”
A Newcastle club statement read: “The club is saddened to report that on Saturday night first team manager Ivan Lodge was taken seriously ill and admitted to hospital, where he remains at present.
“Our thoughts and best wishes are with Ivan and his family at this difficult time.”
