Mark Carruthers: Inside South Shields takeover, manager situation, transfers & China trip
Our non-league expert, Mark Carruthers, gives his insight on the current situation surrounding South Shields FC.
As one chapter opens, another must end - and that just about sums up the events of the last fortnight for South Shields FC.
The finishing touches to an agreement with an international investment group were being applied as National League and EFL interest in Mariners manager Ian Watson was starting to rise.
There was tentative interest from League One club Barnsley and National League side Southend United were believed to be keen to name the former Gateshead assistant manager as successor to the highly popular Kevin Maher just weeks after their FA Trophy final win against Wealdstone.
League Two club Salford City also considered a move for Watson in the aftermath of their decision to part company with Karl Robinson following a League Two play-off final defeat against Notts County.
The fourth tier of English football will be Watson’s destination next season after Rochdale made a firm move for his services late last week and triggered one of the most eventful periods in the club’s recent history.
With the ORY LLP Group paying a first visit to Mariners Park since they became majority shareholders of the club last weekend, negotiations with Rochdale continued and there was an initial expectation Watson’s move to the North West would be confirmed at around the time you are reading this piece.
A breakthrough was found earlier in the week and the deal was signed and sealed on Tuesday afternoon as Watson’s Mariners managerial reign was brought to an end after a solitary season.
Was it a successful season? Not as successful as he would have liked. Was there progress during that time? Unquestionably. So where does this leave the Mariners as they embark on a new chapter? That remains to be seen.
Wind the clock back just over 12 months and there was a very different picture as news of a managerial appointment was awaited just weeks after the Mariners had ended the season in the bottom half of the National League North table.
Optimism was waning, positivity was AWOL and enthusiasm for the future felt conspicuous by its absence. Yet Watson, and assistant manager Carl Magnay, oversaw a remarkable recruitment drive that laid the foundations for a season of serious progress, many positives, and, in the interests of balance, some negatives.
From a bottom half finish to genuine title challengers, from falling at the first hurdle in the FA Cup second qualifying round to a first round proper tie against League Two opposition in front of the TNT Sports cameras - the progress was clear to see.
But the impact made by Watson and Magnay goes far beyond results and performances. They brought a defined style or play and renewed belief and enthusiasm for events on and off the pitch.
They put a plan in place to develop in the short, medium and long-term. Everything had changed - and although the title and promotion slipped away during a draining final fortnight of the season, hope of a brighter future still remained.
So why leave now? Covering the events of the last ten days have brought conversations with people on all sides and one thing I can say with confidence is that this was a completely football-based decision and was all about making a move into the EFL. It was also a decision that was not taken easily and the support Ian Watson has received away from the pitch from everyone involved at South Shields during a very difficult time in his personal life understandably pulled on the heartstrings.
Is there risk? There is - and a lot of it if we are brutally honest. But whether it’s Jose Mourinho moving to Real Madrid or Ian Watson heading to Rochdale, there is risk in any managerial appointment or decision to accept a new role elsewhere.
There is understandable frustration from supporters that their management team have opted to move away from the club when they appeared to be building something positive and forward-thinking.
That frustration has raised further with the move coming when new investment has been secured - but conversations with those at South Shields have suggestions the disruption to their plans for the new season has been minimal.
Potential new signings remain in discussions and two deals are believed to be close. Pre-season friendlies are close to being finalised and there is genuine excitement over what could lie ahead as a new look ownership group look to drive the club forwards once again.
Geoff Thompson’s comments to The Gazette seemed to suggest Mike Williamson will form part of a new management team - although that is yet to be fully confirmed as the Mariners chairman moved to suggest a contingency plan was in place prior to Watson’s departure.
Some have pointed to what has been perceived as an ill-timed visit to China as Thompson, Williamson, members of the ORY LLP Group and first-team players Sonny Finch and Sean McGurk meet various parties that can play a part in the club’s future.
The trip to Shanghai was planned long before the Mariners had even received an approach for Watson and was seen as important in establishing strong relationships in the aftermath of the investment deal being announced.
There is still plenty of work to do - but that work is still very much ongoing and appointing a new manager will be a priority. Despite Thompson’s hint over Williamson, there will also be interest from elsewhere and that could leave a big decision. Is it continuity of sorts or a fresh approach that is required?
This is an early test for the newly bolstered South Shields hierarchy - and one they must pass if they are to build on the positive work overseen by Watson and Magnay in their one and only season at the Mariners helm.