IAN CHANDLER, who won the FA Vase four times with Whitley Bay, is back as manager of the Northern League club until the end of the season.
Chandler won the Vase as a player in 2002 before leading the Seahorses to an unprecedented hat-trick of triumphs in 2009, 2010 and 2011.
He stepped down as manager in February 2014 after ten years at the helm but he is now back after Whitley Bay parted company with Paddy Atkinson.
Atkinson left Hillheads after a run of just wins in eight games left them in 17th place in the Northern League Division One.
Chandler’s first game back is scheduled to be Tuesday night’s Northumberland Senior Cup quarter-final against Morpeth Town before Saturday’s visit of North Shields.
A club statement read: “Whitley Bay Football Club have parted company with manager Paddy Atkinson. Atkinson has been in charge at Hillheads for just over a year, during which time the club enjoyed a successful FA Cup campaign but since then league form has been disappointing with only two wins in the last eight games.”
Chairman Paul McIlduff added: “The club would like to thank Paddy for his all his efforts over the past year and wish him the best of luck in the future.
“The club are pleased to announce that former boss Ian Chandler has agreed to return as manager until the end of the season, assisted by another familiar figure, former physio Glen Martin.”
