Blackwood returns as Millers boss - The Redditch Standard

Blackwood returns as Millers boss

Redditch Editorial 6th Jun, 2019   0

A FAMILIAR face is back in charge of Feckenham after Aaron Blackwood took over the managerial hotseat following the decision of Jordan Adams to step down to concentrate on playing.

Adams relinquished the managerial position at the end of last season and 24-year-old Blackwood returns to the Millers following nine months out.

The former Bartley Green Illey manager needs little introduction to Feckenham fans having spent three full seasons at Feckenham from the 2015/16 season before stepping down after three games of the 2018/19 campaign owing to needing a break from football.

The club was at a low ebb when Blackwood joined in 2015 but, putting an emphasis on youth, a young, talented squad was assembled and his work behind the scenes to help develop the club on all fronts culminated in the Millers’ best league finish in a number of years and an unfortunate Presidents (League) Cup final defeat.




Blackwood will be supported for the Midland League Division Two campaign by a backroom team of assistant managers Rob Donnelly and Ryan Young, head coach Tom Davies, coaches Andy Wright and Steve Dipple and sports therapist Tom Barr.

The experienced Donnelly joins the Millers also following a short time out from the game, having worked alongside Blackwood at Studley U18s, Highgate United U18s and Feckenham U18s before choosing to have a year out.


Young will also assist the backroom team whilst continuing to play and the talented goalkeeper is highly thought of within the club following playing spells at Studley, Bromsgrove Sporting, Racing Club Warwick and Redditch Borough.

Head coach Davies returns for his second spell at the club and the talented coach has an impressive CV in the women’s game following management roles at Stoke City Ladies and Wolverhampton Wanderers Women. He will balance this new role alongside his position as head coach with University of Worcester men’s first team.

Wright and Dipple complete Blackwood’s management team. Wright, who is joint manager of Feckenham Sunday and Dipple, who manages Redditch & South Warwickshire Combination outfit SSS Lions, will both be invaluable as the club looks to kick on on all fronts again next season.

Club chairman Tony Round said: “It’s great to have Aaron back. Once Jordan had given us the news he was going to step down to focus on playing, we knew we wanted to move quickly to make sure the new manager had plenty of preparation time ahead of the new season.

“Aaron had stayed involved in the club over his break period, helping out with the Sunday side and also one of the academy teams, and once he made us aware he’d be interested we didn’t need to look any further.

“He knows the club, the committee and understands what we’re trying to achieve and how we want to go about it. It’s also good to see some familiar faces in the dugout with him, as all know the club well and bring different strengths to the backroom staff. Myself, Phil and the rest of the committee look forward to working with them.

“We would like to thank Jordan Adams and Ryan Faulkner for stabilising the club in September and making sure we remained competitive.”

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