Hartlepool United are pleased to confirm that Elliott Dickman has signed a contract as First Team Coach until the end of the season, with the Club holding an option to extend.
Dickman initially joined Pools in October on a monthly rolling agreement and has since played a key role under Nicky Featherstone during his interim spell in charge.
Following Featherstone’s appointment as permanent manager last week, Dickman will now continue as a key member of his First Team coaching staff, which has guided the team to four wins, three draws and just one defeat in the Enterprise National League.
Before arriving at The Prestige Group Stadium, the 47-year-old spent more than two decades within Sunderland’s academy system, working across multiple age groups and ultimately serving as Lead Coach of the Under-23s.
He later added to that experience with a spell as Lead Player Development Coach for Newcastle United’s Under-23s, before moving into senior management with South Shields in the Enterprise National League North.
Elliott Dickman, First Team Coach, said: “I’m delighted to sign a new deal with the Club and continue working as part of Nicky (Featherstone)’s coaching team. Nicky has been excellent to work with, and I believe the work we’ve done so far has been really positive.
“His leadership and the culture he’s creating around the group have stood out, and we’re very aligned in how we see the game. He gives me the freedom to coach in the way I believe in and to contribute to the environment and standards we’re building together.
“I’m excited about what we can achieve as a group and the foundations we can continue to put in place for the longer term.”
Nicky Featherstone, Manager, said: “Securing Elliott as part of the permanent coaching staff was really important for us. Since he joined in October, he’s had a positive influence on the group, both on the training pitch and around the dressing room. During my interim spell, his support, detail and professionalism were invaluable and it quickly became evident how well we worked together.
“Elliott is an excellent coach with a strong track record in the game and a real ability to get his message across to players. We share very similar ideas about how we want the team to train, play and carry themselves. I’m delighted he has committed to the Club and I’m looking forward to continuing that work with him.”
Joe Monks, Head of Football Operations, said: “Elliott has been an integral part of the work done with the team since Nicky transitioned into his managerial role. It was a natural step for us to ensure he remained part of the coaching staff. The rapport they’ve built over the past few months has been clear to see and that relationship will be important as we continue to move forward.”
“Elliott brings a wealth of experience and is a well-respected coach in the North East. He has already contributed significantly to the standards we are putting in place across the First Team and securing him for the longer term allows us to continue developing the staffing structure we believe will support the Club’s progress.”
