Exclusive:‘Exciting conversations’ - South Shields owner Geoff Thompson reveals takeover update

South Shields owner Geoff Thompson has revealed he is holding ‘exciting conversations’ about the future of the club as at least one party continues to show interest in completing a takeover of the National League North promotion candidates.

It has been a year of progress on the pitch for the Mariners as Ian Watson and Carl Magnay look to guide their side to promotion into non-league football’s top tier during their first season in charge at the 1st Cloud Arena.

However, progress is being made off the pitch too as Thompson expressed his determination to make the right choices over who will succeed him in guiding the club he purchased 11 years ago in what he believes can be an ever brighter future.

He told The Gazette: “Some time ago, I announced my intention to sell the club but I’ve gone about it in the right way. I had a health scare, I lost my father, I lost my younger brother, and I thought at that time maybe it was time to think about succession.

“That’s still on my mind to a degree, we have some exciting conversations underway and there’s a lot more I wish I could tell you at the moment. We will see where that takes us but what I will say is I have a responsibility as custodian of the club to make the right choices and will make sure we do make those."

One of Thompson’s choices that is paying off was the decision to appoint former Gateshead and MK Dons assistant manager Watson as the Mariners new manager following the departure of Elliott Dickman last summer. After an underwhelming season last time out that saw South Shields finish in the bottom eight of the table, a remarkable turnaround in fortunes has pushed the Mariners firmly into contention for promotion.

Consecutive defeats at Hereford and King’s Lynn Town have allowed leaders AFC Fylde to open up a four-point advantage on Watson’s side with eight games remaining in what has undoubtedly been a season of progression. However, the Mariners are all but guaranteed a home play-off semi-final tie as they are sitting 15 points clear of third placed Merthyr Town, who are the visitors to the 1st Cloud Arena on Saturday afternoon.

Thompson has been delighted with the progress made under Watson and assistant manager Carl Magnay and admitted he has ‘never been more excited about the club’s prospects’ as a nervy run-in to the end of the campaign lies in wait.

He said: “We have come a long way and although last year was disappointing we have reset and we are moving forwards. I am delighted with the arrival of Ian and Carl and the team around them. We have got our recruitment right and it’s a big team effort. We’ve turned it around and we just need to keep pushing and see where we end up.

Thompson continued: “I knew of Ian’s track record and we did our research. I spent a lot of time with him before we agreed terms and his record and the research speaks volumes because, although it’s his first managerial appointment, he was instrumental in the success at Gateshead and it’s good to have Carl with him. We have a strong management structure and I’m excited about that whatever happens this year. I’ve never been more excited about the club’s prospects.

“Given where we are, I’d be a fool if I said there wasn’t pressure - but am I putting pressure on Ian and his team to get us promotion? No, of course not. I leave that with the team and my role is just to give him all of the support financially and as a organisation and that’s what I’ve tried to do. “I’d love to get promoted this year, we are up against some great sides this year - but if it doesn’t happen, we just dust ourselves down and go again - but I am not contemplating that at the moment.”

Thompson’s determination to continue developing talent from within has brought growth across the Mariners academy set-up - and there was reward for one of the big successes of the youth ranks earlier this season when midfielder Will Jenkins penned a new long-term deal.

The academy product has developed into one of the most influential members of Watson’s side after gaining regular first-team action under his successor Dickman. Jenkins has also captained the Mariners on a number of occasions this season and his progress was monitored by a number of EFL clubs before he put pen-to-paper on a new deal.

Thompson stressed the need to enhance the pathway for the club’s young talent to progress from the academy to the senior set-up at the club and is enthused by the work going on behind the scenes to make that happen.

He explained: “Will Jenkins is a terrific footballer but also a pleasant, well-rounded young man and a great leader so I am pleased for Will. He is a great example of what the academy can produce and I am hopeful we can continue developing that sort of talent and evolving.

“There is a lot of work going on behind the scenes to strengthen the academy and put the right pathway in place to develop the right kind of talent. Our academies, the 16 to 19 academy, the 11 to 16 academy and the international academy have got a growing reputation and that is a really positive thing.”