Rob Elliot’s successful one-year reign as Gateshead manager officially came to an end on Tuesday when he accepted an offer to take charge of League One strugglers Crawley Town.
The former Newcastle United and Republic of Ireland goalkeeper was initially named as interim manager at the International Stadium just over a year ago after former Heed boss Mike Williamson joined League Two side MK Dons.
Elliot, player assistant manager Louis Storey and Heed head of recruitment Luke Clark were forced into a mid-season rebuild of their squad after several loan signings were recalled by parent clubs and key forward Stephen Wearne followed Williamson to Milton Keynes.
However, their hard work paid off as shrewd loan additions such as Derby County youngster Dajaune Brown and Cardiff City forward Kieran Evans helped the Heed lift the FA Trophy for the first time in their history after a penalty shoot-out win over National League rivals Solihull Moors.
Elliot also become only the second Gateshead manager to guide the club to a play-off place in non-league’s top tier – although the Heed were cruelly denied the opportunity to battle for a place in the EFL as they failed to secure a ten-year security of tenure on their International Stadium home.
Despite losing influential midfielder Ed Francis and last season’s top goalscorer Marcus Dinanga to Exeter City and Bromley respectively, Gateshead have started the new season in fine fashion and Saturday’s 3-1 win at Southend United left them in fifth place in the National League table
However, that win at Roots Hall will now go down as Elliot’s final game in charge after he put pen-to-paper on a two-year deal with Crawley. The former Republic of Ireland international will be joined Broadfield Stadium by Heed player-assistant manager Louis Storey and first-team coach Anthony Sweeney after the trio travelled to Sussex after overseeing a final training sessions with the Gateshead squad on Monday morning.
The trio are expected to be in the stands for their new side’s League One home clash with Mansfield Town tonight before their first game in charge will come at Wycombe Wanderers.
Gateshead are also in action this evening as they host Middlesbrough Under-21s in the first game of the controversial National League Cup. Club legend Ben Clark, who managed the Heed during the second half of the 2018/19 season, will take interim charge and is likely to remain in the dugout for Saturday’s home game with Wealdstone.
Clark will be assisted by experienced midfielder Jacob Butterfield, the club’s head of recruitment Luke Clark and club captain Greg Olley.
In a statement released on their website on Tuesday, the Heed said: A statement released by the Heed on Tuesday read: “Gateshead FC can confirm that manager Rob Elliot has departed the club to join Crawley Town. A formal approach was made by the League One side last week, with a deal now agreed which sees Elliot join the Red Devils alongside assistant manager Louis Storey and first-team coach Antony Sweeney. Elliot and Storey depart having etched their names into club history by becoming the first ever Gateshead manager and assistant to lift the Isuzu FA Trophy in May 2024, while on an interim basis, shortly after ending the 2023/24 National League season inside the division’s play-off places for the first time since 2014.”
Gateshead club chairman Neil Pinkerton said: “Rob, Louis and Antony depart with the best wishes of everyone associated with Gateshead FC. Rob and Louis have been an integral part of the club’s success in recent years, culminating in an unforgettable day at Wembley Stadium in May which saw them lift the FA Trophy for the first time in our history. Thought we are saddened to see Rob, Louis and Antony leave the club, we understand that the approach represented an opportunity for the trio to progress their coaching careers at a higher level.”
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