Report by Julian Tyley
We are sorry to announce that Liam McIvor has decided to stand down as manager of Whitley Bay Football Club.
Liam has been at the Club for more than two years, initially as assistant manager but he took over as manager when Nick Gray resigned in January.
Club Chairman Paul Mcilduff commented “I would like to thank Liam for everything he has done for the Club. We are naturally sad to see him go but we fully understand his reasons for stepping back from management. He has worked tremendously hard while he has been at Whitley Bay and we send him our very best wishes for the future. He will always be very welcome at Hillheads.”
Liam made the following statement to the Club:
“Firstly I’d like to thank everyone from Whitley Bay Football Club from the supporters to the hierarchy. I want to mention a special thanks to Nicky Gray who brought me in two and a half years ago. It’s one of the best things I’ve ever done; Whitley Bay has become a part of me. I absolutely love the place. We began by securing our place in the First Division when we were at the club for the last ten games of our first season. Then we went on to have a great season last year finishing 4th, and we brought some good players in this season but unfortunately it never materialised into the way we thought it was going to happen.
“I was really disappointed when Nicky left. He was the heartbeat of the changing room. The lads loved him and I want to thank Paul Mcilduff for letting me carry on as manager.
“I’ve absolutely loved my time at Whitley Bay and wish them all the best in the future and I’m sure I’m going to be there to watch them and support them.
“I’ve had a lot of things going on in my personal life and I’m starting to see a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel but for the foreseeable future I’ve decided to step back and just relax. It’s been pretty intense from when I first started in management at the age of 30. It’s been 10 years of having a full time job and a part time job as well. You just never stop. All last summer we were trying to recruit new fresh faces to push the team on.
“But for now I’m going to enjoy the break. That’s not to say I’m finished with football. I think I’ll be back in football at some point but for the foreseeable future I’m just happy to be relaxing and taking in games.
“I’ve become close to the players obviously last season but more this season, probably since I’ve stepped up to management and I can’t thank them enough. When Nicky left they were on the phone saying they wanted me to take the job on. I just want to thank them for all their efforts and their commitment. We’ve had some fantastic results against top teams and we’ve never given up even when we have been beaten. We’ve got a never say die attitude. We assembled a young team and these young lads have got a very bright future ahead of them, many of them capable of playing at a higher level.
“I want to thank the fans for their loyalty under some hard circumstances. They’ve backed me and Nicky from day one, home and away. We’ve done some great things over the two years. We went on a record equalling 19 game unbeaten run. We’ve done the double over North Shields with the most goals we’ve ever scored against them in one game. Apart from all that we’ve enjoyed our time at the club.
“From Paul, Davey, Peter, yourself, Jay, to all the backroom staff and helpers, people don’t see the work they put in. Martin Kelly while he was on the board, he was another great bloke, and obviously the late Derek and Jennifer. You are all what make the club so special and of course the fans as well. It doesn’t matter what manager it is, these people make Whitley Bay what it is now and it’s been an absolute privilege to be here.
“I’ve absolutely loved my time at Whitley Bay and wish them all the best in the future and I’m sure I’m going to be there to watch them and support them. I’d like to wish the new management all the best for the future.”
