Gateshead Appoints Alun Armstrong New Manager After Poor Run

Gateshead Football Club has appointed Alun Armstrong as their new first-team manager, following the resignation of Carl Magnay after a disappointing season. Armstrong, 50, returns to management for the first time since departing Darlington in September 2023, bringing extensive experience from his previous managerial roles at Blyth Spartans and Darlington, where he achieved notable success including an FA Cup run. The club aims to rebuild and re-establish its identity under Armstrong, who emphasized his commitment to hard work, exciting play, and goal-scoring to entertain fans. Armstrong's appointment was selected from a highly competitive pool of over 70 applicants, with the club's chairman Bernard McWilliams expressing confidence in his ability to reinvigorate the squad for the challenges ahead. Armstrong also has a history as a player with clubs like Ipswich Town and Stockport County, highlighted by a memorable UEFA Cup goal against Inter Milan. His immediate objective is to restore Gateshead's competitive edge and reconnect the team with its supporters.