Ashington AFC regrets to announce the forthcoming departure of Ian Skinner from his position as manager, effective at the conclusion of the current season. This decision arises from a shift in Ian’s professional circumstances, making the demands of managing a Northern Premier League East side exceedingly challenging.
Nonetheless, while Ian will be stepping down from his managerial role, he will continue to serve the club as a director, transitioning into an administrative capacity.
Skinner’s association with the club dates back to 2006 when he initially served as a joint manager before returning as an assistant in the 2015 season. In January 2019, amidst a challenging period for the Colliers, Skinner assumed the role of manager. Under his leadership, the club has witnessed an extraordinary period of success at Woodhorn Lane. Notably, he guided the team to its first silverware in a decade, clinching the Northern League Cup and Cleator Cup.
The 2022/23 season saw the Colliers reach the Fourth Qualifying Round of the FA Cup and through playoffs, he steered the club back to the Northern Premier League after an absence of more than five decades.
In addition to his managerial responsibilities, Ian has been actively involved in various facets of the club’s operations, from bar work to serving food when needed. He will continue his association with the club as a director, providing support to the new management team in any capacity required.
Reflecting on his tenure, Ian Skinner remarked, “It has been my privilege to manage my hometown club over the past five years and to witness the progress we have made both on and off the field. When I first returned to the club it was a period of struggle but with hard work we built a team that would go on to challenge for silverware and achieve promotion. I want to thank everyone who has helped me as part of that journey, the playing and coaching staff, volunteers and supporters, your dedication to this club has meant the world to me.”
Chairman Brian Shotton expressed his admiration for Skinner; “When I first spoke to Ian about the job, I was honest about the scale of the challenge facing the club at the time, he accepted without hesitation and never complained. Together we drafted a vision for the next few years and despite the challenges presented by Covid, we went on to achieve them all. I cannot speak highly enough of Ian’s commitment to this club and the fact he has never taken a penny in payment since returning is testament to that.”
The club will be making a further announcement in due course.