Kidsgrove Athletics’ record goalscorer Anthony Malbon has been appointed to the role of 1st team manager on a full-time basis.
Malbon, who scored 161 goals for the Grove in two spells at the club, was first appointed to the role in late March of this year following the departure of previous gaffer Scott Dundas who had held the post at the Autonet Insurance Stadium for just short of four years.
In that time Malbon guided the club to an 18th-place finish in the league table and took charge of the team at Rushall Olympic in the semi-finals of the Staffordshire FA Senior Challenge Trophy.
The club have also confirmed his backroom staff will be as follows: former Nantwich Town coach Jay Bateman, who also spent last season as a coach at Kidsgrove, Dom Heath who has been appointed to the role of coach and finally Ross Payton who takes on the role of fitness coach.
Heath was an apprentice at West Bromwich Albion and played some games for the West Brom reserves team. Following his departure from the Hawthorns he has turned out for the likes of Stourbridge, Hednesford and Chasetown amongst others.
He has also held spells in the dugout at North West Counties side Stafford Town where he was manager and first team coach at Midlands Football League sides- Shifnal Town and Wolverhampton Casuals.
Meanwhile, Payton is a Graduate in Sports and Exercise Science from the University of Chichester. He has been a personal trainer and online coach for eight years which he has combined with fitness coaching roles at the likes of Stafford Town, AFC Bridgenorth and Wolverhampton Casuals.
In a message posted to the club’s X (formerly Twitter) account, Malbon said: The management team have been busy and agreed terms with some players already.
“Players have agreed to remain at the club also from the existing squad.
“But the management team ain’t done and are chasing a lot more signatures that they will be keeping close to their chest in the next couple of weeks, but it looks exciting for the future of the football club.”
