[pantaloon]

It has been officially confirmed that Birchy has signed for Gretna FC and may play against Kelso tomorrow

[jeckwithesneck]

Latest News & Events Blue Star Duo Are Promoted!

Newcastle Blue Star have appointed former Middlesborough player Dean Gordon and and ex-Stoke star Mark Birch as their new management duo.

Director of football Bob Morton states " We thought it would be safer to keep the job in-house.
"The problem with looking outside is you don't really know the person until you put them in the environment. And if they don't fit it's too late.
"These lads have enormous experience in the game and respect from the players. When you have somebody on the pitch who can communicate directly with the players it's an advantage."

Gordon, 36, has a wealth of experience as a former Crystal Palace and Boro player. He has also played for the England under 21's 13 times.

Birch, 34, played at Football League level with Stoke City and Carlisle, as well as Gretna in Scotland and Southport in the Conference.

The two will be responsible for team selection and tactics and will be assisted by Bob Morton from the dug-out.

Morton said he realised some people might say that the pair will favour themselves when it came to selceting the team. But he added: "If I picked the team I would pick them. They are two top class players."

Morton believes the player/manager formula will work well for them next season and that there is no reason why they cannot have a top four finish.

"We were playing positively at the end of last year and the team was in high spirits, lets hope we can continue where we left off."



This says otherwise. off of the Official Newcastle Blue Star FC website

[jeckwithesneck]

ray-dale, on Aug 8 2008, 19:00, said:

he is in our squad to play kelso tomorrow. he used to be manager of bluestar. i think your link may be a little out of date

i was only joking

[pantaloon]

The Sow's Misery, on Aug 9 2008, 08:17, said:

Gretna must be splashing the cash because Blue Star are paying mega bucks. It's meant to be 'if it isn't broke then don't fix it' not 'if you career out of the SFL and spectacularly break then do exactly the same'

Just what the feck are you on about...no one at Gretna is getting paid...expenses only for the Manager and players

[Ally1988]

Must say that having seen that lumbering ox Birch play for Gretna in the 2nd division that he has now found his level. I always thought he was a really weak link in an excellent Gretna team, and 1 which unfortunately Ayr didn't target as often as I would have liked.

[Mr_Chablis]

Birch was only recently appointed manager of NBS just the other week so it must be one of the shortest managerial appointments going. I know that Blue Star Director of Football (Bob Morton) makes Vladimir Romanov look patient. They go through managers as quicker than the Jambos and that's saying something. They caused a real uproar to get into the Unibond League (even though technically I'm pretty sure they didn't automatically qualify) then after losing a few games they wanted to go back to the promised land of the Northern League. Amazingly a few weeks after resigning from the league they won a few games and totally fcuked up the Northern League's plans for this season by announcing they wanted to stay in the Unibond.

[gretna_ed]

The Sow's Misery, on Aug 9 2008, 08:17, said:

Gretna must be splashing the cash because Blue Star are paying mega bucks. It's meant to be 'if it isn't broke then don't fix it' not 'if you career out of the SFL and spectacularly break then do exactly the same'

There's no cash to splash. This is a supporters run team. Birchy approahed us wanting to play and he's only getting expenses which is very little

[pacman]

The Sow's Misery, on Aug 10 2008, 10:04, said:

Give over! I hear noises from the Norther League's cumbrian sides that players are being targetted with promises of mega bucks to go and play for Gretna. Thankfully most aren't daft enough to think it'll last

Are you off your head?! We're not paying anyone any wages. Just where do you think that money would come from? BUt oh no, as usual, it's Gretna, they must be splashing the cash. Let's all have a go at Gretna.

[pantaloon]

The Sow's Misery, on Aug 10 2008, 10:04, said:

Give over! I hear noises from the Norther League's cumbrian sides that players are being targetted with promises of mega bucks to go and play for Gretna. Thankfully most aren't daft enough to think it'll last

[gretna_ed]

The Sow's Misery, on Aug 10 2008, 10:04, said:

Give over! I hear noises from the Norther League's cumbrian sides that players are being targetted with promises of mega bucks to go and play for Gretna. Thankfully most aren't daft enough to think it'll last

You talk some amount of pish.

[gretna_ed]

ljunberg, on Aug 10 2008, 12:08, said:

Where will I find a report from yesterdays game?

There'll be a match report Here probably this afternoon sometime