Whickham appoint Haldane as manager

Whickham have today appointed Lee Haldane as the club’s new manager.

Haldane joined the Lang Jacks after a 16-month spell as Easington manager where he led them to the Northern League Division Two play-offs as well as the semi-finals of the Ernest Armstrong Trophy and the quarter-finals of the Durham Challenge Cup.

Before that, he gained experience as part of the coaching team at Wearside League outfit Ashbrooke Belford House, who won the Durham County Trophy in 2017.

Haldane will be joined at Whickham by experienced duo Barrie Smith and Paul Wardle who will form his coaching team. Smith won the Northern Premier East, FA Vase, Northern League, Durham Challenge Cup and League Cup during his time at South Shields, while Wardle has a long history in the Northern League with the likes of Bedlington Terriers, Sunderland RCA, Hebburn Town and Chester-le-Street.

Haldane said: “We’re over the moon to be presented with this opportunity.

“Myself, Delta and Baz see this as the ideal fit and we are really looking forward to getting in and meeting the lads.”

Dale Burrell, Ross Peareth and Matty Pattison, who have held the fort since the departure of Tony Fawcett, will take the team for the cup tie against South Shields at the First Mortgage Glebe on Tuesday (7.30ko). Haldane and his staff will have a watching brief on Tuesday before taking training on Thursday ahead of their first game in charge, the league trip to Guisborough on Saturday.

Chairman Ben Riley said: “Lee and his team have been incredibly impressive and showed a great desire and passion to secure the job.

“Also, more significantly, their vision moving forward is aligned with ours. They are a great fit for what we are trying to build here and we look forward to working with them.

“I would like to thank all the other applicants for taking time to apply and a huge thank you goes to the players and Dale, Ross and Matty. The hard work on and off the pitch has continued at the highest possible level and that is testament to their characters.”