Tommy Miller named as new permanent Spennymoor Town manager

National League North club Spennymoor Town have confirmed Tommy Miller as their new permanent manager after he formed part of an interim management team since February.

The former Hartlepool United and Ipswich Town midfielder has worked alongside Moors midfielder Matty Dolan to guide the Brewery Field club throughout the final two and a half months of the season following the departure of former boss Graeme Lee.

The duo oversaw an impressive upturn in form that almost provided an unexpected push into the National League North play-off places.

Defeats against Scarborough Athletic and Worksop Town over the Easter weekend, though, left their side with too much work to do during the final week of the season.

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Busy summer

However, Miller has done enough to convince the Moors hierarchy he is the man to take the club forward on a permanent basis, and he now returns to the role he previously held five years ago.

Miller is expected to name a new assistant manager as he prepares for a busy summer with Dolan reverting to a dual role as player-coach and academy manager.

Club legend Jason Ainsley (pictured above) will continue as head of football, but the Moors have confirmed he will take on ‘more direct responsibility for all football matters, including enhancing and overseeing the club’s recruitment strategy’.

Structure

Moors managing director, Ian Geldard, told the club website: “Having Tommy and Matty oversee things so effectively over the last couple of months has allowed us to reevaluate the entire structure.

“We have come so close to reaching the play-offs in recent seasons and we want to build on that by providing the best possible platform for success across all areas.

“Time has been taken to analyse the way we operate and how we can improve that structure and we’re confident that the changes we’re making can help us achieve our aims.”

There was also confirmation that another Moors legend, former striker Gavin Cogdon, will ‘refocus’ on his role as head of community and club development.

However, he will continue to work alongside the first team staff and aid with strength and conditioning.

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