South Shields confirm Lee Picton departure as former Newcastle United man takes up new role

South Shields have confirmed sporting director Lee Picton has left his role at the National League North club and have announced details of three key appointments ahead of changes to the ownership structure at the 1st Cloud Arena.

Picton initially joined the Mariners as assistant manager just under a decade ago as he worked alongside Jon King before moving into a role as joint-manager following Graham Fenton’s arrival in September 2016. The duo led South Shields to a historic quadruple-winning season that ended with promotion into the Northern Premier League’s second tier and an FA Vase final win against Cleethorpes Town.

Another promotion into step three of the non-league pyramid followed 12 months later and the duo remained in joint-charge until Picton stepped into a new role as Mariners chief executive in November 2020. With on and off-field changes bringing a successful academy and the transition into full-time football complete, Picton then assumed duties as the club’s first ever sporting director in May 2022 and was instrumental in the introduction of the Mariners international academy.

However, the former Whitley Bay defender has now officially departed after almost a decade of service during one of the most successful periods in the club’s history. The Mariners thanked Picton for his ‘significant contribution’ and then confirmed three key appointments that will strengthen the club’s leadership team as they head into another big summer.

A statement released on the Mariners website read: “Geoff Thompson, Chairman of South Shields FC, confirms that Lee Picton has left South Shields FC. After almost ten years of outstanding service, Lee has decided it is the right time for him to move on due to personal reasons. The club thanks him for his significant contribution and wishes him well for the future.”

Development

The Mariners have also confirmed three new appointments as former Newcastle United and Wolverhampton Wanderers defender Mike Williamson has been named as the club’s new director of performance and culture. The former Magpies star will be tasked with ‘enhancing player performance environments, supporting staff and player development, and embedding a strong, unified culture throughout the club’.

Chris Bell as now been officially appointed as the Mariners new technical director after working alongside manager Ian Watson and Williamson during their time with Gateshead, MK Dons and Carlisle United and a new general manager has been appointed with the arrival of Francesca Callabeut. The Mariners have stated the latter will ‘bring extensive experience in operations and organisational leadership’ and will oversee the club’s day-to-day management.

The appointments come just a week before the Mariners will receive a decision from the National League over the recent agreement with an international investment group that will see changes to the ownership structure at the 1st Cloud Arena. Mariners chief Thompson explained during the announcement of the deal that the intention was for the new look structure to ‘will take effect from the 16th April’.

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