By Mark Carruthers
Ebac Northern League Division One club Whitley Bay have confirmed the appointment of former FA Vase winner Nicky Gray as their new manager.
The former Morpeth Town stalwart has accepted an offer to take over at Hillheads following the departure of Derek Forrest.
Gray will oversee training and meet his new squad for the first time on Tuesday night as preparations for Saturday's trip to Newcastle Benfield get underway.
The four-time FA Vase winners currently sit in the bottom half of the Ebac Northern League Division One table and have played more games than any other side in the bottom eight.
Gray is hopeful they can secure their place in the top tier over the coming weeks and starting putting the foundations in place for a more positive future at the club.
He told The NLP: “It feels a little bit like the situation Morpeth were in when I was appointed there – although Whitley Bay are a level higher and in a little bit of a better position.
“I think by their own admission, they will know they should be doing better and it's been a difficult season so far.
“They've had injuries and suspensions and some things have just gone against them – but we want to move things forward and that starts with keeping our place in the league this season.
“There is a lot of things moving forward in the North East non-league scene and there is no reason why Whitley Bay can't be part of that.
“Success on the pitch can get things moving off the pitch and that can help us move forward and look to progress up the non-league pyramid – but we have to get the basics in place before we can even think about that.”
Gray oversaw a remarkable transformation during his previous managerial role at Morpeth.
After taking over a side that finished bottom of the Northern League's second tier in the previous season, he took the Craik Park club to an unprecedented level of success.
By the time he stepped down from his role in June 2020, Gray has led the Highwaymen to three promotions, a Northumberland Senior Cup triumph and their historic FA Vase Final win against Hereford in 2016.
Gray made a whole host of prudent signings during his near-ten-year reign at Craik Park – but he insisted he will wait before looking to add to his ranks at Whitley Bay.
“I've watched four or five games and there is work to be done,” he explained.
“But the players at the club have the shirts at the moment and they have to earn the right to keep them and help us out of the form we are in.
“I have contacts and players I could bring in, but at the moment, it's down to the players that have the shirts to prove they can move the club forwards.”
