Guiseley AFC this week confirm the appointment of Andy Welsh, an ex-Premier League and EFL player turned non league manager.
The club parted ways with Paul Phillips last month, with caretaker Liam Tongue winning his final game in temporary charge in midweek, a 4-2 victory over Marine leaving them 10th in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, with 19 points from 12 games played, three points from the playoff places.
Welsh, 40, had been out of work since departing Bury, who he led from the club’s revival in 2020, and previous to that spell, he was in charge of Ossett United.
✍️ | Welcome to Guiseley @andy_welsh11!
Following an extensive interview process we are delighted to appoint Andy as our new first team manager 👇#GAFC #GuiseleyTogether
— Guiseley AFC (@GuiseleyAFC) October 23, 2023
GUISELEY STATEMENT:
Guiseley AFC can reveal that their new First Team Manager is ex Bury AFC/FC and Ossett United Manager Andy Welsh.
Following an extensive interview process whittling down over thirty applicants for the job, Andy was seen as the overwhelming choice to take the club forward. Andy’s success at his previous clubs has not only been on field, delivering a play-off finish and County Cup trophy with Ossett United in their first ever season and a league title with Bury AFC, but off field too in pulling together communities and increasing clubs profiles and togetherness.
Andy commented “We are excited to get started at Guiseley, a club at non-league with a lot of history, with the potential to help grow the fan base bringing together the local community to support and get behind their team is something we are looking forward to. This league is a very tough division, and we need everyone getting behind the team home and away to bring that feel good factor back to the stands.
The current squad looks strong however I believe this division is the strongest it has ever been, so we know the next month of games is going to be really tough against the top teams in this league. Add to that the start to the season has been up and down, levels need to be lifted as at the minute we are mid-table with a tough run of games so this will show us where the players are at if they want to compete and battle when our backs are against the wall. I’m sure they are capable of doing this, but we all have to work together to create a hard to beat mentality when clubs visit us at Nethermoor. Our potential is as hard as everyone wants to work both on and off the field and the buy in from players, staff, supporters and the community is really important from day one.”
Football Secretary and General Manager James Pickles added “Whilst still relatively young in managerial terms, Andy has taken charge of over 200 non-league games already with a highly impressive win percentage. Combined with his playing career which included Sunderland in the Premier League he has a wealth of experience at a young age, Andy’s hunger to progress all aspects of the club and himself came across massively at interview and we’re excited to have him on board as first team manager.”
Although born in Manchester, Andy has been based in Bradford for 10 years and has developed his own successful youth academy in which he engages with local schools and community groups. We will be looking to work with Andy to continue to utilise these links to bring the club into contact with the local community as much as possible.
Our thanks go to Liam Tongue for his time as caretaker manager as well as all the staff and players for rallying round to produce some fine performances and results over the last 5 weeks. Liam, who is hopefully close to a return to fitness, has shown a great enthusiasm and character for the role and we’re sure he will go on to have a strong coaching or managerial career once his playing days are behind him.
Liam Tongue will take charge of his final game as caretaker manager tomorrow evening against Marine FC with Andy Welsh and his staff observing from the stand.
We look forward to Andy meeting the squad and hearing more from him towards the weekend.
ANDY WELSH’S CAREER:
2001–2004 – Stockport County – 85 games (3 goals)
2002 → Macclesfield Town (loan) – 6 games (2 goals)
2004–2007 – Sunderland – 25 games (2 goals)
2006 → Leicester City (loan) – 10 games (1 goal)
2006–2007 → Leicester City (loan) – 8 games (0 goals)
2007 – Toronto – 20 games (1 goal)
2007–2008 – Blackpool – 24 games (0 goals)
2008–2011 – Yeovil Town – 120 games (7 goals)
2011–2013 – Carlisle United – 38 games (0 goals)
2013–2014 – Scunthorpe United
2014 – FC United of Manchester
2014–2016 – Farsley Celtic
2017 – Ossett Albion
Total – 342 games (16 goals)
International career
Scotland U19
Managerial career
2017–2018 – Ossett Albion (player-manager)
2018–2019 – Ossett United
2020–2023 – Bury – P115 – W73 – D25 – L17 – WIN% 63.5
2023- Guiseley AFC
Here’s how fans reacted as Guiseley confirm the appointment of ex-Premier League and EFL player turned non league manager Andy Welsh…
@shakerite66: Nice bloke with a cracking win percentage. Good luck Guiseley.
@djshaker1978: Yesss good luck Andy. I am already jealous and wish you the best of luck 💙
@SamHeath2019: Best of luck gaffer 🙌🏻💙⚽
@shakersi: Good luck Andy. got yourself a cracking manager and top bloke. 👍
@suebowenok: Very very best wishes @andy_welsh11
@GarryWhite784: Best of luck @andy_welsh11 glad your back up and running 👏👏👏
@MLpud: Fantastic news, good luck Andy, congratulations Guiseley.
@DonnaHaslam1: 👏👏👏👏 fantastic appointment good luck Andy 👍 x
@GBM33: Love that Welshy! Good luck @andy_welsh11 👊
@brangy_white: Good Look Andy. I’m sure you will smash it.
@wroberts291: You’ve just got yourselves a top notch manager there in Andy. All the very best Andy mate 👍👍👍
@keeperofstone: Good luck @andy_welsh11 I knew you would get to the Northern Premier league Premier division but was hoping it was going to be with #buryfc
@PW2324: There isn’t many out there with stats like Andy has. You’ll be in good hands. Another clubs loss is Guiseley’s gain. Good luck Andy… #Statsdontlie
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