8th tier Kidsgrove Athletic appoint two experienced former EFL players Matt Rhead and Tom Pope in a bid to avoid relegation.
They have been placed in interim charge until the end of the season, with Kidsgrove becoming the 11th club in the Northern Premier League’s West Division to change manager this season.
A single win in the past 10 matches – a sequence during which they’ve conceded 25 goals – has left Grove one point above the relegation zone.
Club Statement pic.twitter.com/kyeRBohYWn
— Kidsgrove Athletic FC (@OfficialKAFC) February 10, 2025
Following today’s announcement in relation to the management team departures.
Kidsgrove Athletic are pleased to announce the appointment of Matt Rhead and Tom Pope as player-managers until the end of the season, with support from Danny Meek. Both Rhead and Pope bring extensive…— Kidsgrove Athletic FC (@OfficialKAFC) February 10, 2025
CLUB STATEMENT:
Following our decline in the league table table and with the team now only 1 point from safety.
The club’s board have made the decision to change the existing management team lead by Interim manager Jay Bateman.
With manager Anthony Malbon in no position to return to the club, the board felt the time was right to make the change Following defeats to Stafford Rangers and Chasetown.
The club would like to place on record our thanks to Jay, Dom, Ross, Alex and Gary for their efforts especially Jay having taken over the reigns in extremely difficult circumstances.
Following today’s announcement in relation to the management team departures.
Kidsgrove Athletic are pleased to announce the appointment of Matt Rhead and Tom Pope as player-managers until the end of the season, with support from Danny Meek. Both Rhead and Pope bring extensive experience to the club.
Matt Rhead began his career with Kidsgrove Athletic in the 2004–2005 season before moving on to clubs including Eastwood Town, Mansfield Town, and Lincoln City. He returned to Kidsgrove Athletic in 2024, nearly two decades after his initial stint with the club. 
Tom Pope, a Stoke-on-Trent native, has had a distinguished career with teams such as Crewe Alexandra, Rotherham United, and Port Vale. He joined Kidsgrove Athletic in October 2024, bringing with him a wealth of experience from higher tiers of English football.
Here’s how fans reacted as the 8th tier club appoint two experienced former EFL players in a bid to avoid relegation…
@BarowTom77573: Rheadyy 😍
@adamf_99: Matt Rhead and Tom Pope- both were a force to be reckoned with back in their professional days- hope they do well!
@craig_rollings: All the best Tom 👍🏽
@magsdone: Good luck Matt enjoy your new challenge 👍
@Garypm1234Moore: Massive football experience between Matt and Tom with a will and determination to win games. Go well brothers.
@mountbelzoni: Rheady!
@benton_jonny: @iamcrew08 The process begins, tikka takka is dead and the Matt Rhead managerial dynasty starts in Kidsgrove, and ends with England lifting the world cup
@Goodo1977: Rheady in charge… The Grove have Instantly become my second team! UTI!
@JamieOsgodby: Good luck Rheady 👍
@ValiantKyle: Up the Grove
@Chris___Bell: Rhhheeeeeeeeady!
@kristaylor26: Go on @TomPope69507931 be interesting if you pick yourself in goal after Saturdays display. 🐈
@Homebrewmanjp: Good luck Tom.
@tommywinklad: Gooooooooooooo on the Legion of Doom. Fucking smash it lads! 2 top lads who will do their upmost to get the best week in, week out! Hope it works out for you lads! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
@impsteaderz: Training will consist of shithousery with a double dose of more shithousery!! Love it…..best of luck guys 💪
@iantaylor1969: Good luck Rheady #Imps #lincolnlegend
@wat19972086: Good luck Tom hope it all works out for you both #pvfc
@emmacrellin1: Good luck Rheady 👍⚽️
@gmapleth: Goodness me 😍
@GarethJ97503218: Matt Rhead and Tom Pope some experience in them pair
@MxndaJay: Go on the lad @TomPope69507931 👏🏼🤍
@lucywrayx: I would love Rheady as our manager one day 😍
@Stu8886_: Never a dull moment, up the fucking Grove 💙
@AKA_DanThompson: Go on Rheady!
@JuceeRob: Coming to my annual Kiddsgrove game at the end of March making the journey from Yorkshire 💪🏼 had a blast before, hopefully you boys climb the table. 🆙👆🏼
@NickMurphy1995: Really enjoying this era of players who played against us in League Two becoming managers. Never in my life would I have envisaged Rhead and Pope being managers, let alone together.
@Chris___Bell: Rhhheeeeeeeeady!
@BennLCFC: Isn’t rheady a stoke fan and pope a port vale fan 🤣🤣🤣 be interesting
@Gameday523: Tom Pope has gone from Striker to GK to Manager in the space of a couple of days 😂
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