Neil Danns named Southport manager as takeover talks continue
Southport have confirmed Neil Danns as their new manager.
Neil Danns has been appointed as the new Southport manager.
The 42-year-old has officially been named as Jim Bentley’s successor and was at Haig Avenue this afternoon to perform media duties for the club.
Sheffield United hero Mark Duffy will be alongside him as assistant manager, reuniting after their time at Macclesfield.
Danns will leave his position as Tranmere Rovers assistant manager, a role he held during the stewardship of Ian Dawes, Nigel Adkins and Andy Crosby.
It poses as a huge opportunity for Danns to ignite his managerial career, after leaving Macclesfield - in light of their promotion to the Northern Premier League Premier Division - to join Rovers’ backroom staff.
Danns has already been working on bolstering the squad and Off The Park understands that players around the region have been sounded out as part of the next chapter at Haig Avenue.
It’s understood that the club have opted to appoint Danns with a view to developing the players at the club as part of the shift in focus regarding recruitment.
There is a hope that with the former Premier League midfielder at the helm that he can help inject quality into the current squad, in a bid to take them up the table.
In becoming Southport manager, both Danns and Duffy will reunite with their former club, Macclesfield, who steamrolled to promotion after winning the Northern Premier League.
But the appointment comes amid the ongoing negotiations in formalising the takeover.
The National League have been tasked with ratifying the takeover from David Cunningham and Kieran Malone, from The Big Help Group.
It was confirmed at the beginning of the month that the two parties had entered a period of exclusivity.
Supporters have voiced their frustration and concern, seemingly, at the delay with the takeover which in turn has put back the confirmation of Jim Bentley’s successor, over a month since the application process finished.
Steve Porter is expected to become the new chairman should the takeover be completed, with the focus put on ensuring the club have an experienced figure at the helm for the new era.
There has been change to the Southport Companies House portal which has seen the termination of a number of appointments, most notably chairman, Peter Mitchell.
Although it doesn’t mean it is completed. The club have been in frequent dialogue with the league over the ratification of the takeover.
In recent years, the National League have strengthened their policy regarding takeovers which has led to new criteria and demands for prospective owners.
The prospective owners have provided the relevant documents, including signature of transfer and proof of funds among others which tick the demands set out by the league.
Both Malone and Cunningham have already passed the Football Association’s (FA) Owners and Directors Test (ODT), or better known as the Fit and Proper Person’s Test.
As it stands, the takeover remains with the National League. Southport and the prospective owners remain in dialogue with the relevant parties as the ratification process continues.
For Danns, he will be tasked with disclosing the retained list as Southport remain are one of the remaining clubs to publish their squad going into the summer.
There are decisions to be made regarding the future of Chris Renshaw, David Morgan, Keenan Quansah, Matty Thomson, Fin Heath, Marcus Carver and Nat Knight-Percival who are out of contract.
Sonny Hilton and Tom Moore have both have their options to an extra year triggered.
Meanwhile Jack Doyle, Danny Lloyd, Jordan Keane, Luke Burgess, Sam Minihan, Will Russ and Danny Philliskirk are contracted until next season.
Clubs around the league are already signalling their intentions in the division this term. Radcliffe, in particular, have been active with some notable signings in Jon Taylor and Michael Afuye.
Neighbours Marine have announced Bobby Grant as their new manager, with a new footballing structure in place which sees Neil Young as director of football.
They’re expected to retain the majority of their squad, with Fin Sinclair-Smith signing a new contract after featuring high on previous recruitment reports at Southport, and add players to the squad.