Blyth Spartans sack Graham Fenton as National League North managerial changes continue
Blyth Spartans have sacked manager Graham Fenton after 16 months in charge.
The 49-year-old took over at Croft Park in August 2022 and helped the club beat relegation last season before leading the team into a comfortable mid-table position in the current campaign.
Jon Shaw was initially named as Fenton's interim replacement but his appointment has now been made permanent and has signed a contract until the end of the 2024/25 campaign.
Shaw has hung up his playing boots to take on the role after serving as Fenton's assistant.
The 49-year-old won his last game in charge as Spartans manager by beating South Shields on Boxing Day but the result was not enough to save his job. He was relieved of his duties on Thursday and has been placed on gardening leave.
Fenton is the third of the region's National League North managers to lose their job this week after Darlington parted ways with Josh Gowling and South Shields sacked Julio Arca.
A statement, released via the Blyth Spartans website, said: "The club can announce that Graham Fenton has been relieved of his managerial duties and placed on gardening leave.
"Blyth Spartans would like to express their gratitude for the work in which Graham has done at Croft Park since being appointed as first-team manager in August 2022.
"He guided the club to preserve Step 2, National League North, status during the 2022/23 season and has played an instrumental role in the development of the youth set-up via Tyne Metropolitan College too, taking full charge of the under-19s at the beginning of this current campaign.
"From making 131 appearances and scoring 18 goals, having a brief spell as caretaker manager back in 2004, to being in charge for the past 16 months, his contributions across the whole club are hugely appreciated."
His replacement Shaw has taken up his first job in senior management and his first game in permanent charge will be against South Shields at Croft Park on Saturday.
Speaking on his appointment, the 40-year-old said: "It’s a really proud day for me becoming manager of a club with the history of Blyth Spartans.
"I’m grateful to the club for giving me my first opportunity in management and I can’t wait to get going and I will give everything to put out teams you can be proud of.
"I also want to wish Graham, who I’ve had 2 great spells as assistant and learnt a lot from, all the very best for the future."
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