National League bottom club Gateshead announce change of manager in Rob Elliot and a trio of new signings in a bid to try and stay up.
Alun Armstrong ‘will head up the club’s football development in a re-structure of the club’s footballing staff and undertake a new role as our Head of Football Development, linking his role as the lead coach of Gateshead FC Academy’s U19 side with the club’s first team set up, strengthening the previously established pathway from youth football to professional football.
Elliot spent a year in charge from October 2023 to October 2024. Jacob Butterfield remains in place in his dual role as a member of the club’s playing and coaching staff.
We stick together, Heed Army ❤️#WorClub 🩵❤️ pic.twitter.com/02KIXY80or
— Gateshead FC (@GatesheadFC) January 3, 2026
Club Chairman, Bernard McWilliams, said: “As always, we will adapt and overcome to put Gateshead Football Club in the best possible position we can. With that said, we can now confirm a re-structure within the club.
“Alun has agreed to step to one side to continue with his role within Gateshead FC Academy and Gateshead College, heading up the development of youth within the club and working on what we have already introduced on that front this season.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank Alun for the hard work he has put in, within a rather difficult situation.
“We can also confirm with immediate effect the appointment of Rob Elliot as first-team manager, and the board of directors are now looking towards strengthening the squad in order to improve our position and work towards achieving safety in the National League.
“Works are also at an advanced stage on other key appointments as we move to improve the club’s situation, which also includes building our off-field support.
“We continue with our plan to work towards financial stability this year, and we hope to maintain our status as a National League club to allow for the best start for next season and planning to build a team that can compete at the highest level.
“I would like to thank the Heed Army, who have stuck by us, and we now look forward to 2026 and hope that we can rely fully on your support, both home and away.”
Alun Armstrong added: “Over the last month I have had a lot to deal with personally, so after meetings with Bernard and Rob it is in the best interests of myself and the club to step to one side and let Rob take the reins.
“I will continue to help and support him, the players and the club in any way I can to make sure the three-year plan is still achievable.
“I would like to thank everyone from the players to all the staff, volunteers and fans for their work, help and support whilst doing this dual role.
“Let’s stick together and give the lads the best chance to get the job done.”
Transcribed with the help of TurboScribe!
Defender Brad Nicholson joins from Solihull Moors, striker Mark Beck signs on loan from Scunthorpe for his second spell, and Louis Storey comes in as player-coach from Dorking Wanderers until the end of the season.
These moves came following the reappointment of manager Rob Elliot, who oversaw his new side’s 3-1 defeat at Tamworth on January 3rd.
Gateshead remain at the foot of the table after winning only five of their first 25 league games this season.
Interviewer: “Robert, obviously not the result that you wanted in your first game back today, but in terms of the day itself, the performance and everything that sort of went into it, I know you’ve obviously not had a lot of time with the boys before then, in an official capacity at least, but how have you sort of seen things from your perspective today?”
Rob Elliot: “Yeah, I don’t want to talk too much about the game, so I thought ultimately we were let down in terms of both boxes, you know, we didn’t create enough in the top, in the final third for us, other than with our long throws, a couple of chances here and there, which is fine and, you know, obviously been a problem for us is defending the box and being a bit more resilient.
“I think the chances we give them are more counter-attacks and more our own doing and set pieces, so there’s a lot of work to do on that, but just, yeah, I want to say thank you to all the fans that come, it’s so lovely to see so many lovely faces and, you know, the work starts obviously one day in a game, so it wasn’t ideal, but bringing in, you know, Brad, Beck and Louis are definitely going to help us, the right characters, the right people that, you know, get the club and want to be here and so, yeah, hopefully we have a few more coming in as well.
“But obviously I think me and you will sit down next week and I’ll sort of explain why I’ve come back and, you know, what it looks like and I think that’s important because for me I want to get the club back on track, not just on the pitch but off the pitch as well and recreate that identity in terms of that connection we have with the fans and the connection we have with the players and the area and maybe try and improve the club from when I was here before in terms of our structure and working with good people who care about the club.
“So, yeah, obviously I’ll sit down and go through that so we can put out more info, the last 24 hours have been so quick, I didn’t think it was right for me to stand in front and try and give that information now.”
Interviewer: “Yeah, I know you mentioned the fans obviously, a few down today, a good atmosphere, a positive atmosphere really in the away, I know you spoke to them before the game started as well, so just a word on them and obviously the importance of having them with you, which obviously, like you say, no doubt when we sit down next week and things are explained a bit more, it’ll be something that they’ll be able to understand as well.”
Rob: “Yeah, hopefully, I just asked, as I said, look, from my point of view, the fans have always been amazing with us and I just asked if they could just stick with us throughout the whole game regardless of the score and they did that and it was absolutely brilliant, singing their hearts out and the lads went over to show their appreciation.
“I think we’ve probably got to reset completely and start again from now in terms of the connection, in terms of everything and that’s what’s important to me, so a massive thank you to the guys who travel and obviously there’ll be people watching and I know you unfortunately don’t play at home for a while, but yeah, I think that’s what we want to get back to first and foremost is the connection of the club. We all understand what the club is, what it means and how we can build that going forward.”
Here’s how fans reacted as the National League bottom club Gateshead announce a change of manager and a trio of new signings…
@TheDB30: If we’re gonna get players in then we need to get a few out as well, too many nowhere near the standard of this league.
@Barwineewindas: As I have said all season, as much as Alun looked out of his depth, it is very difficult to see who can get a tune out of this playing squad. They are really, really bad.
@joshgfc23: Brilliant news, get us back playing the way we should. The Tyne and Wear stand have a manager to be proud of again after a whole year. 🙌🏻
@Boyle_Thomas08: Credit to the board. Well done Bernard and the rest of the board for making it happen 👏👏
@runningtrackgfc: I cannot put into words just how happy I am about this. It’s amazing news!
@LRbix: You don’t understand how much this has made me smile what a sight this is. We are fucking back baby #WorClub
@nathancoulson98: Glad he’s [Alun] still got a job. Came in and gave it a go under extremely difficult circumstances. Didn’t go well at all, but that doesn’t mean that he can’t/doesn’t have a place at the club. Hope he’s doing as well as possible, given the circumstances.
@GFCJosh0503: Wasn’t meant to be and didn’t work out however a lovely bloke.
@CliveGoodwin3: Welcome back Rob, good luck rebuilding a team to get us to safety and going forward
@Gillian78725061: Thank you for everything that you tried to do Alun… sorry it didn’t work out but glad you’ll still be around the club
@chrisump37: All the best in your new role, Alun. Thanks for your efforts during this difficult period ❤️
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