Fleetwood Town appoint ex-Scotland, Celtic, Leeds, Blackpool, Wigan player Stephen Crainey as their new permanent manager.
The 40-year-old has been in caretaker charge of the League One outfit since Simon Grayson was sacked last month (24 November).
Crainey, who was the club’s Under-23s manager before he was placed in temporary charge of the senior side, has managed to see an upturn in form in recent weeks.
𝗖𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘀 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 👊#ftfc are delighted to confirm the appointment of @crainzo as Head Coach until the end of the season following a successful spell as interim.#OnwardTogether
— Fleetwood Town FC (@ftfc) December 21, 2021
CLUB STATEMENT:
Fleetwood Town are delighted to confirm the appointment of Stephen Crainey as Head Coach until the end of the season following a successful spell as interim.
The 40-year-old has lifted Town out of the Sky Bet League One relegation zone with a run of three games without defeat including two wins and as many clean sheets.
Crainey steps up from his role as Under-23s boss and will be assisted by Barry Nicholson.
Chairman Andy Pilley said: “We’ve been hugely impressed with the way Stephen has managed to get the best out of a squad and the way he’s stepped up to manage the side through what has been a really difficult spell with injuries.
“In the past month, we’ve seen real leadership qualities in the way he’s taken charge of the first team, in the end, it was an easy decision to appoint him until the end of the season at least. Stephen has worked really hard to get himself into this position with the club, and it’s a promotion we feel is richly deserved.
“He’s played a huge part in the development of the team’s young star players, and we are delighted to name him as our new manager.”
– STATEMENT ENDS –
The Cod Army now find themselves unbeaten in their last three third tier games, including an impressive 3-0 win over Bolton Wanderers (7 December).
They were held to a 0-0 draw by Lancashire rivals Morecambe at the weekend as both languish at the wrong end of the table.
Fleetwood are now 18th in the table, two points above Morecambe who occupy the final relegation place.
Back in his playing days, Crainey was a left-back who won 12 caps for Scotland and was part of the Blackpool side that won promotion to the Premier League in the 2009-10 campaign.
This will be his first senior managerial role after spending a number of years with Fleetwood’s academy.
Young products like James Hill and Ged Garner worked with Cairney and are now both key members of the first team and look set to flourish under their former coach once more.
After the game against Morecambe, Crainey said on the result…
“I thought with the effort the boys put in today we deserved the three points. Especially for a 20/25-minute spell in the second half, I thought we dominated the ball and we just lacked that goal, but it’s something we can work on moving forward, but in terms of the application of the team, they were absolutely brilliant on and off the ball.”
“When you don’t win games of football, you make sure you don’t lose them and that’s what we did today. We keep moving forward, keep training the way we’ve been training, keep playing the way we’ve been playing and keep showing that application daily and things are definitely looking up for us.”
On the clean sheet…
“I think if we showed a bit more composure in the final third, we could have had two or three goals today, but when you aren’t firing in the final third and missing a couple of chances, you make sure to close the door at the other end and I think the lads at the back defended impeccably well.”
“[Tom] Clarke and [Conor] McLaughlin have been excellent since I took interim control and long may it continue. We’ve got a really good blend of young and senior players so once we get things clicking, we’ll win games and I’m sure of that.”
On selection headaches…
“If I didn’t think they could do it, I wouldn’t be putting these lads in the squad, they’ve got top talent and they continue to showcase themselves in league one football. They deserve to be in the team so it’s good selection headaches they’re causing for me, in terms of the experienced players and a good blend of the young lads for the future.”
“Callum’s a good footballer. He’s been at the club a couple of years now so I’ve seen what he can do, not just in games but in training as well and he’s a bonus to have back. Dan Batty will be available for Boxing Day and that’s what I want, I want selection headaches.”
“Whoever is in the team playing at the moment, it’s their shirt to lose. I keep reiterating that to the group and that’s what we’ll be doing in the next few games.”
Twitter users reacted as Fleetwood appoint the ex-Scotland, Celtic, Leeds, Blackpool, Wigan player as their new manager…
@ftfc_lewis: Suiiiiii get in actually quite happy with that!! Merry Christmas lads x
@joshruck48: Stephen crainey baby Stephen crainey ooooh
@Mattftfc: End of the season, good deal that🤩
@CodsChat:
Knows the players, the club and has earned his chance to give it a go with recent results.
🔴⚪️𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗖𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘆’𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝗱 𝗻 𝗪𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗔𝗿𝗺𝘆⚪️🔴
@RochePbob: Best of luck there apart from against Wigan. 👍🏼
@SamPenman88: @_JackPiper_ What a man. #gooncraineylad
@russkay111: Great news, good luck, well deserved and COME ON YOU CODS!!!❤️❤️❤️
@dacardle:
Delighted For You @crainzo
Good Luck Pal 🍀
YESSSSSSSS pic.twitter.com/4wssSP9Et8
— FTFC-_-J____A (@eeeeeee_train) December 21, 2021
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