Gary prepares for Town’s campaign (From St Helens Star)

Gary prepares for Town’s campaign

10:57am Thursday 2nd July 2009

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ST HELENS Town manager Gary Bickerstaffe has confirmed the make-up of his back room staff as the club prepares for the start of the new Vodkat NWCFL and Liverpool County Premier League campaigns.

Bickerstaffe, who replaced John Fletcher in the Town hot-seat with six weeks of the 2008-09 season remaining, steered the club to seven victories and a draw from the club's final eleven games ensuring the club's top flight status.

Bickerstaffe said: “I am delighted with the new additions to the club's backroom staff and equally delighted that we've secured the continued services of all existing staff.

“We've had an excellent start to the pre-season training programme with upwards of forty players at our Bobbies Lane training facility but we'd still like to see any players who capable of playing at both NWCFL and Liverpool County Premier League levels.”

Bickerstaffe has persuaded Lee Riley to make a return to the club and join him as first team assistant manager. The former Town defender has also had extensive non-league experience as a player with Prescot Cables and Warrington Town.

Bickerstaffe said: “I'm delighted Lee has agreed to join us and I am convinced he'll be a great acquisition.

“He's an experienced player and has had good management experience with Prescot Cables Reserves and more recently had great success with Whiston Cross in the Warrington League.”

Stalwart club captain Iain Dyson has shown great loyalty to St Helens over a number of seasons; last season he turned down a string of strong offers to play elsewhere choosing to battle for survival alongside his team-mates.

Dyson, who was instrumental in the appointment of the new Town boss, will take up a role as player coach.

Joining Iain on the coaching staff will be Mike Walker who has already shown a significant commitment to the club in the short time since he joined.

The summer break has also seen the confirmation of the Reserves management team with Mike Simmons as Manager along with his assistants Anthony Burgess and Alan Hockenhull.

Bickerstaffe said: “'We have put together a strong management team for the Reserves and we will work very closely together with a common aim to ensure competition for places and the promotion of players to the First team squad.”

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