GRAHAM FENTON says he’s been touched by thank you messages from North Shields fans – but says he had to put himself first when rivals South Shields came calling.
Fenton has switched to the other side of the river to become joint-manager with Lee Picton after four-and-a-half successful years at the Robins.
Fenton helped revitalise the club by winning the Northern League Division Two title in 2013 to take them up to Step 5.
The following season, Fenton led the club to Wembley glory in the FA Vase, and a year later they picked up more silverware in the Northumberland Senior Cup.
Despite losing just once this campaign, well-backed South Shields – who won the Step 6 league last season – decided to part company with boss Jon King over the weekend. And Fenton felt he couldn’t turn down the chance to take over with Picton.
Fenton, who works with Picton at Monkseaton Academy, told The NLP: “When you’ve been somewhere for four-and-a-half years and put so much time and effort in, it’s not easy to make a decision within a day and say, ‘Right, I’ve decided to go’. It’s one of those where you have to say, ‘Let’s give it a shot, I’m doing it for the right reasons’.
Ambitions
“Everyone at North Shields understood. The chairman was fine, the lads were great, so it was quite an emotional night on Monday when I told them.
“It’s been really touching. Not just from the lads, but the messages that have come from the supporters as well. I think they realise and appreciate the effort that went in to lift the club from where it was to where it is now. I will putting in the same time and effort to do the same at South Shields.”
Chairman Geoff Thompson has ploughed in more than £1m to the club that have former Sunderland midfielder Julio Arca and ex-Gateshead duo Jon Shaw and Craig Baxter in their squad.
Last season they had crowds of over 1,400, and the new management duo’s reign got off to a perfect start with a 3-1 win against Washington in front of another four-figure gate.
Former Aston Villa and Blackburn Rovers midfielder Fenton, 42, has made no secret of his ambition to manage at the highest level he can – and he feels the Mariners can help him do that.
“I had a chat with Geoff Thompson and he laid out what they’re hoping to achieve,” Fenton said. “I had some great times at North Shields and I know they possibly have the same ambitions, but it’s going to take a bit longer because they haven’t got the resources to back up those ambitions.
“So it was a difficult decision, but if I’m to further myself as a coach and a manager I’ve got to kind of push on a little bit. It’s maybe a little bit selfish, but I’ve got to look after myself and my family.
“It’s exciting times. The players there at the moment are fantastic, quite a few have played at a higher standard, and I can’t wait to get started.”
