ALFRETON TOWN have confirmed Grimsby Town legend and former Harrogate Town assistant manager John McDermott as their new boss.
McDermott, 48, spent his entire 20-year playing career at Grimsby and made over 750 appearances for the Mariners in all competitions.
After retiring in 2007, he moved into coaching at the Grimsby Institute Academy before being appointed assistant manager at Harrogate in 2010.
He spent six-and-a-half years with Town before leaving in January and moving closer to home, becoming director of football at Cleethorpes Town.
McDermott helped the Owls reach Wembley in the FA Vase but he has now taken his first manager’s job days after Cleethorpes lost to South Shields at the national stadium.
He has been brought into the Derbyshire outfit a week after close friend and ex-Grimsby director Lee Mullen joined the board and agreed to invest in the club.
McDermott told the club’s website: “I am so happy to be at the Reds, I can’t wait to get started on such an exciting project.
“I have always wanted to be number one, most of my coaching career I have been at number two which has been great as I have built up years of experience as an assistant and it’s a great time to step up for me.
“I want to thank everyone at Cleethorpes Town for a fantastic experience there, we had a great season this season and getting to Wembley was fantastic.
“I had a brief chat with Wayne (Bradley, Alfreton chairman), about the way forward and the ambition at the club and it ticked every box for me.
“It was a no brainer, we want to head higher and aim higher and I want to help that happen. I always loved coming to Alfreton, it’s such a great club, it’s well run and I’m very excited to be a part of this club and helping to move us forward.
“With added investment we can start to build our squad and get Alfreton challenging again and trying to push ourselves back into the Conference Premier for a start. It’s exciting times and I can’t wait to get started, we have high expectations for this season and I am delighted to be here.”
