NEW MANAGERS AND NEW LEAGUE ALL CONFIRMED BY NEW ‘BORO’ THIS WEEK
NUNEATON Town FC has announced the appointment of Darren Acton and Russell Dodd as joint first team managers.
But they have had to defend the decision this week after ‘inaccurate’ rumours circulated over the selection process.
The duo have been lifelong friends who share the same footballing philosophy and they have previously worked together as the management team at Coventry United.
Acton is no stranger to Boro fans earning legendary status after racking up 347 appearances in goal for the club between 2003 and 2010, including the epic FA Cup ties against Middlesbrough, and he recently returned to the club as goalkeeping coach.
He is well known in the nonleague scene and has played and coached for a number of other clubs including Telford United, Burton Albion, Kidderminster Harriers, Solihull Moors, Barnet and Alvechurch.
Dodd has comprehensive playing and managerial experience predominantly at steps 5 to 7.
His network of contacts at these levels will prove to be invaluable as we move forward. His playing career saw him ply his trade with Kidderminster Harriers, Tamworth, Bromsgrove Rovers, Stourbridge and Rushall Olympic amongst others. Moving into management his former clubs include Lichfield City, Coventry United, Highgate United and Coton Green.
The club’s board unanimously agreed to the appointments following a comprehensive recruitment process. Nuneaton Town FC received a number of high calibre applicants and would like to place on record sincere thanks to all those who applied. It would also like to put on record our sincere thanks to the club’s football subgroup for all of their hard work during the recruitment process.
Chair Ian Cook said: “This is great news for the club and the loyal Nuneaton fans. Darren and Russell bring a wealth of experience and the board were very impressed with their plans.
“Their vision showed that we are all united and share the same goals for our club. Bring on the 2024/25 season.
“With the rebirth of our club well underway, we look forward to welcoming Darren and Russell to the club and helping them to develop a competitive side which our loyal fans can be proud of.”
• Nuneaton Town will have a local derby to look forward to in their debut season after being placed at step six of the nonleague pyramid system by the FA.
The phoenix club have been placed in Division One of the Midland Football League, the same division as town rivals Nuneaton Griff.
Meanwhile Acton and Dodd have moved quickly to make their first backroom appointment with the signing of Justin Marsden as player-coach.
Marsden is another that needs no introduction to Boro fans. A firm fans favourite he made 164 appearances in the blue and white stripes scoring 36 goals. Marsden and Acton are former teammates having played together in the reformed Nuneaton Town side that won back to back promotions in 2009 and 2010. Marsden recently left Rugby Borough where he had been player-manager at the step 5 club.
“THE board of Nuneaton Town FC has been saddened to read the recent inaccurate comments made in the public domain over the weekend regarding the manager recruitment processes.
“A great deal of work was put into the recruitment process by the subgroup for which everyone is extremely grateful. The final decision on any appointment was always going to be made by the club board.
“The remit of the football subgroup was to provide a recommended candidate to the board for the managerial vacancy. This was clearly documented in the Football Subgroup Terms of Reference.
“It was subsequently decided that the football subgroup’s candidate would be interviewed by the board and a final decision made. This decision was included in board minutes on April 10 and May 1.
“The board decided not to appoint the recommended candidate from the subgroup’s process for legitimate reasons that cannot be made public due to confidentiality.
“The board subsequently received an additional joint application, and they were both interviewed.
“The board are pleased that Darren Acton and Russell Dodd have agreed to become Nuneaton Town joint managers for the coming season and we are heartened by the overwhelmingly positive response that they have received from supporters.
“The steering group has worked extremely hard and at pace to revive our club. Under such circumstances miscommunication and disagreements can occur. It is sad that there has been a disagreement over this matter, but we hope that the support and good working relationships that have been developed in the last few months can be restored. “Everyone involved cares deeply about football in Nuneaton and with our place in the league now confirmed we all look forward to the new season ahead.”