Morsley making boardroom switch

Mark Morsley is standing down as the manager of Needham Market at the end of the Ryman Premier campaign to move upstairs into the boardroom.

The Marketmen announced on Wednesday that the former AFC Sudbury and Leiston boss, pictured, will step aside in April in favour of his number two Richard Wilkins to become the chairman of Needham Market Football Club Limited.

Morsley, who first arrived at Bloomfields 15 years ago and enjoyed two previous spells managing the Suffolk club, returned to take the helm again in February 2013 before guiding the Marketmen to the Ryman North title at the end of the 2014-15 campaign.

The promotion-chasers are heading for the highest league finish in the club’s history with Morlsey moving into the boardroom at whatever level they are playing at next season to work closely with Keith Nunn who continues as president and chairman of the club itself.

Morsley’s first spell as manager saw him guide Needham to promotion from the Eastern Counties League's First Division to the Premier Division in 2005, as well as clinching the Suffolk Senior Cup title. A year after his return in 2009 he teamed up with Danny Laws to win promotion to Step 4 of Non-League's pyramid and the Ryman League for the first time in their history.

In a statement on Wednesday announcing the shake-up ahead of the fourth-placed club's trip to Staines on Saturday, Tom Rothery was named as assistant manager and head coach when Wilkins takes the hot-seat at the end of the campaign with Nathan Munson staying on as goalkeeping coach.

Having spoken of his desire for a more ‘hands-on’ role ‘upstairs’ at Bloomfields, and with an excellent replacement in Wilkins already at the club, Morlsey told fans he'd decided the time was right to make the move.

“It is the right time for both me and the club,” Morsley said. “Bringing Wilks in at the start of the season was not only a coup for my management team but I knew then that he was the right man to be our manager one day and that time is now.

“His attention to detail, knowledge of the Non-League game and the way he conducts himself makes him the perfect appointment. My role will be to oversee his progress as well as being able to have an input into the footballing side of our academy, talking to other clubs about loan deals for our better scholars and driving forward the Needham brand.

“This move for our 1st XI management set up will continue with the ongoing development of our club and I believe there will be more exciting times for the club and its excellent supporters ahead.”

Needham Market chief executive Graham Emmerson said: “Mark has always been a part of the fabric of Needham Market FC; we saw that when he first joined us 15 years ago and despite creating successful sides at both AFC Sudbury and Leiston, I always felt he would end up leading us in our aims and aspirations."

He added: “As a club, we are aware that many teams who move up the football pyramid often stall or even fail because they do not have a decision maker who really has ‘been there and done that’ and no one fits that bill better that Mark.”

Image courtesy of needhammarket.co.uk

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http://www.buryfreepress.co.uk/sport/football/non-league/wilkins-jumped-at-chance-to-take-over-needham-1-7892745

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