By Brian Bennett

Marc Ellison says he is ‘more than confident’ that the relegation clouds will move away from the Woodhorn Lane based club come the end of the current campaign.

Ellison – charged with the task of taking over as an interim boss alongside Karl Ross following the departure of previous manager Nick Gray and his assistant Liam McIvor by mutual agreement  – was speaking on Saturday lunchtime after the wet weather had once again intervened and led to the Colliers home clash against Emley being called off due to a waterlogged pitch.

Earlier in the week Ashington’s match with Consett was also cancelled.

The Wansbeck side who are already in the drop zone, moved another place down the table after Bishop Auckland’s 2-0 win over Heaton Stannington but as his side prepare to face Bridlington Town on Tuesday night (February 10), Ellison pushed everything to one side to predict that Ashington will retain their status in the East Division of the Pitching In Northern Premier League next season.

The 35 year old said: “The lads seem excited and are looking forward to getting the games on to have a much better experience in the second half of the season. As a management team we’ve been able to get them on the grass at training and change a couple of things. We’ve also been able to talk to them and put over new ideas as to how we want them to play.”

He continued: “I can’t wait for Tuesday (v Bridlington Town). I’m probably not going to play this year whereas Karl (Ross) is the captain and nine times out of ten he’s going to be playing and he is there for me to bounce ideas off. I feel as if I’ve been put in a tumble dryer over the past week. My phone hasn’t stopped and I’ve been thinking about this and that but I’m really looking forward to it because management – as I have already stated – is something which I have thought about. I’m looking forward to getting my teeth into things, seeing where we go and for us to push on.”

Ellison – who is hoping the passionate supporters at Woodhorn Lane will get behind the team – added: “I’m more than confident and quite excited about the end of the season. The lads we have got in the squad are good players who have been about and we have got a really strong spine. With different ideas, they can implement what we are trying to do and change the way we play and I think that will also alter the way teams on the outside look at us as well. If we have a good month and get some results, that will make things easier – but if we don’t, I still reckon we’ve got more than enough in the squad to keep us up.”

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Since Boxing Day, we’ve had just one home game at Woodhorn Lane. For a club at our level, that’s been a tough run. Long gaps without football affect everyone connected to Ashington AFC.

A special mention to Scott Robson, who continues to put the hours in trying to give us every chance of getting matches on. No one wants football back more than the people working behind the scenes.

Home fixtures are our main source of income. Gate receipts, bar sales and the 50/50 draw usually keep things ticking over. When games are postponed, that income isn’t there – but player wages, rent, utilities, insurance and the rest of the weekly costs still have to be paid.

We understand times are difficult for many, so any support, in whatever way you can manage, is appreciated. We’re fortunate to have some of, if not the best, supporters around.

If you’re able to help the club through this spell:

1️⃣ Call into Colliers Bar when live football is on TV and help keep things moving.

2️⃣ Make a donation to the club:
https://www.ashingtonafc.com/donate

3️⃣ Get your Woodhorn Wall Fan Tile:
https://www.ashingtonafc.com/wall

4️⃣ Sponsor a piece of the pitch for 2025/26:
https://www.ashingtonafc.com/pitch

5️⃣ View our Sponsorship packages:
https://www.ashingtonafc.com/sponsorship

We’re also planning an upcoming Fans Forum with the club directors and interim management team to provide an open update and answer questions. We’ll confirm the date shortly.

Thank you for sticking with the Colliers. We’ll be ready to go again as soon as the weather allows.

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Ashington AFC is pleased to confirm that Brian Shotton has re-joined the football board.

Known to many as a lifelong supporter of the club, Brian previously served as Chairman from 2018 to 2024 during a period of recovery and one of the most successful spells in the club’s recent history.

He returns determined to play his part again, offering experience, stability and a strong belief in the club’s future both on and off the pitch.

By Brian Bennett

Ashington lynchpin Scott Lowery has been ruled out for the rest of the season.

The tall defender has been sidelined since the middle of October with a knee problem but has now received the diagnosis: “The injury happened in the first half of the home game against North Ferriby,” said Lowery who will celebrate his 30^th birthday next week, “I felt a pop in my knee and the initial pain was pretty bad. However I played the rest of the match and was okay – until I woke up the following morning and couldn’t move! I thought it was something which I had twisted or jolted and I tried to return to training after a month but the knee popped again. I’ve had an MRI scan and I’ve torn the posterior cruciate ligament in the back of my right knee.”

Ashington-born Lowery continued: “It’s not a full rupture or fully severed but is a grade two tear. I think surgery was an option but it can basically heal by itself with rest and restrengthening. Kev Chapman, the club’s physiotherapist has given me some workout plans to do and I could probably catch the last couple of games of the campaign. However for the long run it’s better off maybes strengthening it a bit more and not forcing things and looking to come back next season.”

Cramlington-based Lowery added: “I’m devastated. It’s a lonely place being injured because you forget just how much you see the lads which is twice a week at training – unless we have a midweek match – plus a Saturday. I do try to support the lads as much as I can but when I watch the games, I’m kicking every ball and jumping for every header.”

He went on: “It’s so tough watching because all I want to do is to be playing and helping the lads as much as I can and there’s nowhere I’d rather be than back out on the pitch to be honest.”

By Brian Bennett

Jeremy Perera says he has two primary targets after signing for Ashington following his release from neighbours Blyth Spartans.

The Gibraltar international is hoping to become a leading light in the Colliers’ squad as well as looking to help steer the club away from the clutches of the relegation drop zone.

Whilst the Colliers were idle on Saturday, Lincoln United’s 2-0 victory over Ossett United saw them leapfrog from the basement in the table above Ashington on goal difference and push the Wansbeck outfit into the bottom four.

Perera – who trained with his team mates after the Colliers’ match away to Blyth Town had been called off – said about his move: “Obviously it’s a big step to take but I had no hesitation in putting pen to paper. I wasn’t playing at Blyth but I want to be a key player here at Ashington – that’s my aim – and hopefully to help the club to stay in this league.”

The 20 year old, who plays in a defensive midfield role, is raring to go: “The club look as if they have got a good fanbase and I’m itching to get going,” he added, “The game at Blyth Town was called off which was sad news but hopefully we can get going against Consett on Tuesday night.”

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Ian Brodie

Marc Ellison and Karl Ross have agreed to take over team affairs during the interim at Ashington Football Club.

The move comes after manager Nick Gray and his assistant Liam McIvor left the club by mutual agreement last week.

Unfortunately the duo’s first game in charge turned out to be an anti climax as the Colliers’ away fixture at Blyth Town was called off on Saturday morning due to a waterlogged pitch.

Now the pair turn their attentions to Tuesday night’s home clash against Consett – a fixture which has already been postponed on two previous occasions.

Ellison and Ross are both members of the current playing staff – and both spoke at the weekend about having ‘no hesitation’ in taking on additional duties at Woodhorn Lane.

In Ellison’s case, a move into management had already crossed his mind: “I would be lying if I said it wasn’t something I hadn’t thought about anyway as age wise I’m 35,” he said, “I had no hesitation. My body doesn’t feel great so was it something I’d be looking at? Yes. Did I think it was going to happen now – no. I probably was going to be thinking about it at the end of the season anyway so from a selfish point of view I can get to dip my toes in and see if I like it. Will I be needed to play again this year? I don’t know.”

Apart from being skipper, Ross is the longest serving player in the squad. He is in his eighth season playing for his home town club after signing in November 2018 and making his debut in a 1-1 draw at Shildon.

The 27 year old said: “We had a little conversation about it and I had no hesitation in saying ‘yes’. It was a no brainer for me because I’ll do anything I can just to try and help the club which will give them a bit of time to get things into place.”

Hartlepool-born Ellison added: “Did anyone expect Nick (Gray) to leave the club on Tuesday? No – but quite simply, we haven’t been good enough from the start of the season to where we are now. It was disappointing that the match at Blyth Town was off because you always want to play on a Saturday. We’ve got a couple of games coming up where we play teams around us so it would have been ideal to have played today (Saturday) to try and get some points on board. On the flip side it gave us a chance to have a training session and work on things.”

Tuesday’s game against Consett has a 7.45pm kick-off.

We are pleased to announce the signing of Gibraltar international midfielder Jeremy Perera, who joins the squad following his release from Blyth Spartans. Perera, known for his technical ability and game intelligence, will be available for selection in tomorrow’s matchday squad.

The decision to bring Perera on board comes as the club’s Interim Management Team has been granted full autonomy to strengthen the team during this transitional period. As the search for a new permanent manager continues, the management team remains committed to enhancing the squad’s capabilities to ensure competitive performance on the field.

Ashington Football Club would like to provide a further update regarding the vacant manager’s position.

Following a meeting with players last night, the club can confirm that Marc Ellison and Karl Ross will take charge of the team on an interim basis while the club considers its options moving forward.

The club would like to thank both Marc and Karl for stepping up and appreciates the continued support of players, staff, and supporters during this period.

Following discussions between Nick Gray and Ashington Football Club, all parties have mutually agreed that, in the best interests of the club and its future progression, now is the right time for a change in management.

The club would like to place on record its sincere thanks to Nick and Liam McIvor who will also leave his role, for all their efforts and commitment during their time at the club and wishes them every success in the future.

On his departure, Nick provided the following statement.

“In life, some things don’t go how you would like them to. Believe me, there is no one more gutted than me at how the season has gone. I’ve had sleepless nights and I’ve done my best, but simply my best hasn’t been good enough.

I would like to thank Liam and Tom for their 100 per cent loyalty and support, and the players for their efforts. Ashington is a fantastic club with some unbelievable people behind the scenes – there aren’t many people I’ve met in football like Scoop and Alan Brown.

I would like to thank Ian Skinner and Drew Tinsley for giving me the opportunity to manage this great club, and lastly, but certainly not least, I would like to thank the supporters who have been fantastic to me and the players, even when I’ve openly said at times we certainly didn’t merit it.

You deserve the best, and I sincerely hope you have many successes in the seasons ahead.”

Nick joined the club in October 2024, in particularly difficult period, and was required to be very proactive in putting a squad together to keep us in the league against tough financial constraints. This is something that we will be forever grateful for.

Both Nick and Liam will always be welcome back at the club. The club will provide further updates in due course.

By Brian Bennett

Liam McIvor’s top priority in his post match press conference was to apologise unreservedly to the Ashington fans in the wake of the Colliers 4-1 defeat against Silsden in West Yorkshire on Saturday.

It was a fourth consecutive defeat for the Woodhorn Lane based outfit and assistant manager McIvor said: “Before I make any comment about the game, I just want to apologise to the travelling fans who came down to witness that display and what they went through today. They still backed us and I’d like to thank them for their continued support in the face of what was a poor defensive performance as a team in the first half. You can’t concede goals the way we are doing. It’s the same thing – and there are no excuses.”

In what was termed as a ‘six pointer’ Ashington looked sound before goals from Kayle Price, Jake Cassidy and Luke Brooksbank inside a period of 12 minutes completely changed the course of the game and sent the Wansbeck side in at the break 3-0 down.

McIvor said some ‘harsh truths’ were exchanged during the interval: “You always have belief,” he added, “We were hoping to get back into the game in the second period but at this level of football when you are 3-0 down at half time the game is effectively over. However, there were some conversations which took place in the dressing room which will stay in the dressing room – but some harsh truths were said.”

He continued: “We had a better second half and forced their ‘keeper (Tommy Brown) to make three great saves to be fair. We scored with a penalty but also conceded on the break and they’ve hit the post as well which we knew could happen as we were ‘going for it’.

Ashington head to Gateway Park on Saturday in what is another crucial clash against Blyth Town and McIvor said: “It’s a cup final for us. There are no bigger games because we need points otherwise we are going to go into the mix.”