Clitheroe FC have today appointed the new management team of David Lynch as player manager, Chris Holland as assistant manager and Carl Garner as director of football.

David brings a wealth of playing experience from NPL level to Conference level and when interviewed showed complete passion and desire to drive the club forward and continue the great work already started by Phil Brown.

David brings with him former Premier League, Championship and England U21'S player Chris Holland as his assistant manager.

Carl Garner will undertake the new role of Director of Football.

Chairman Lee Sharples had this to say:
"David has been a true professional since first making contacted about the managers role. David's desire and passion to not only work for the club but to help the club grow and succeed both on field and off field working in line with the clubs new recruitment process was a delight to hear".
David is keen to get going in his first managerial role and has already outlined how he and Chris would like the team to play.
I'm truly looking forward to working with David and Chris and continuing the great work Phil Brown had started.
The opportunity to work with a man of Carl Garner’s experience, in his new role as Director of Football, is exciting and I am delighted that somebody with the footballing CV of Chris Holland will be joining me as assistant manager.
David said on his appointment:

"I am delighted to be appointed as the new Clitheroe FC manager. 

This is a fantastic opportunity for me and I am looking forward to the challenge ahead. 

As previous club captain I understand the passion the fans have for the club and the level of expectation demanded from every player that pulls on the blue shirt. I have some fantastic memories of playing for Clitheroe Football Club and I look forward to making many more as manager. 

I am delighted that somebody with the footballing CV of Chris Holland will be joining me as assistant manager. 

My aim is to build on the success of last season and the stability brought in by Phil Brown. The ambition and direction of the Board is exciting and despite a number of offers to continue playing at a higher level, the offer was simply one that I could not turn down. 

The hard work very much starts now and I can’t wait to get going. I would like to thank the Chairman and the Board for this fantastic opportunity".

Clitheroe Football Club has appointed Carl Garner as its first Director of Football.  Garner, who was previously club chairman and manager, has spent the past five years working on player recruitment and scouting for Fleetwood Town, Stockport County and Chester City.  His first job in his new role has been working with Club Directors on advising around the appointment of the new manager.

Club Chairman Lee Sharples said:

I have spoken regularly with Carl on football matters since taking over as Chairman.  With Phil Brown’s departure as manager, the Club’s Directors felt that this was the right time to benefit from Carl’s huge experience and wealth of player contacts.  This will be a key role as the club evolves, and Carl will be central in working with the new manager, when appointed, on all aspects of the role.

Carl Garner said:

This is the start of a new era for the club and one that excites me greatly to be part of. I’ve been privileged to have  worked at some great clubs over the last five years at higher levels and  with some extremely successful people in the game, but this feels like coming home.  After spending  a decade of my life at Shawbridge, and given we now live locally, the way Lee and the guys sold their vision and ambition for Clitheroe FC it was something I wanted to get involved with. Rest assured the club will now be looking eclectically for its player recruitment.  Be it from Rimington to Halifax, Hurst Green to Barrow we WILL be aware and if deemed good enough we will do all we can to bring them here .

The hard work has already started.  Despite these really difficult times for everyone and nobody knowing when football will start again, we are confident that we can bring an exciting enterprising next chapter and deliver this new model and keep the club going in a upward direction and hopefully make a few folk smile along the way.  We certainly won’t fail for trying or lack of innovation and I look forward to seeing many familiar faces soon .

'm sure the fans will join the club in welcoming David, Chris and Carl to the club and when the time comes we will see you all at Shawbridge for the next chapter of Clitheroe FC.