FM11 "Spartans Story"

BLYTH SPARTANS.

JULY 2010.

Blyth chairman Tony Platten appointed rookie Lee Wilson as manager of the “Spartans” on a two year deal. Wilson was given the task of finishing in the top half of the Blue Square North Division.

However finances are very tight for the semi-professional outfit so Wilson wasn’t given a penny towards a transfer budget.

Lee Wilson immediately went about advertising vacant positions on his backroom staff as the only members he had were player / assistant manager Chris Swailes and physio Susan Coates.

His first appointments were scouts Ian Andrews and Graeme Atkinson. Former Ayr United Goalkeeper Alain Main joined on a player / Goalkeeper Coach role. Joe Little joined as a First Team Coach, Fitness coach Paul Carty also joins.

The “Spartans” board have announced an agreement with English Second Division side Hereford United; the deal will allow Hereford to send players on loan to Blyth and agree to play a friendly in the future. The deal nets Blyth £9,000 a year for the partnership.

They have also arranged a deal with Durham City to take Blyth players on loan.

TRANSFERS.

A busy pre-season for the “Spartans” seeing some seventeen players come into the club.

Darlington strikers Curtis Main, 18, and Michael Smith, 18, join on six month loans. Where as a further fifteen players join on free transfers:

Patrick Vaz,31, (USS Tamponnaise)

Eric Farro,33, (USS Tamponnaise)

Benjamin Martha,28, (RVVH)

Didier Caro,24, (AS Saint-Louisienne)

Timo Brands,21, (AZ Alkmaar)

Alan Main,42, (Ayr United)

Aaron Moses-Garvey,20, (Worcester City)

Abdeltareck Sakali,24, (Blackburn Rovers)

Tomos Roberts,18, (Aston Villa)

Ibrahim Sissoko,22, (West Bromich Albion)

Abdou Sall,29, (FC St.Pauli)

Ben Whelehan,30, (Dundalk F.C)

Ryan Carolan,20, (Chelmsford City)

Shane McFaul,24, (Sporting Fingal)

Christian Nanetti,17, (Queen’s Park Rangers)

MAJOR TRANSFERS IN JULY.

FIXTURES.

The club had already arranged six pre-season friendlies and Wilson decided to stick to the games arranged against the all Scottish oppositions of Spartans (Scottish Borders Team), Berwick Rangers, Berwick Rangers Reserve side, Stenhousemuir, Edinburgh City and Musselburgh Athletic.

Blyth manager Lee Wilson was hopeful that his side can take the pre-season form into the new season.