Kevin Davies Appointed Southport FC Manager

Southport Football Club are thrilled to announce Kevin Davies and John Dreyer have joined the club as First Team Manager and Assistant Manager. Both Kevin and John have signed two-and-a-half year contracts with the club.

Kevin and John have an excellent pedigree and bring with them an ambition and drive which fits perfectly with the Board’s vision and philosophy for the future direction of the football club.

Kevin Davies had a 22-year playing career, scoring 150 goals in 820 professional appearances, including 88 goals in the Premier League. He was given an England debut by Fabio Capello in 2012 against Montenegro at Wembley after time spent at a number of clubs including Bolton Wanderers, Southampton, Chesterfield and Preston North End. Kevin has a UEFA A Coaching License and is currently studying Sport Directorship at Manchester Metropolitan University.

John Dreyer made 488 professional appearances for a number of clubs including Luton Town, Bradford City and Oxford United. He became caretaker manager of Stevenage in 2003 but left to take charge at Maidenhead United, whom he guided to the FA Trophy quarter-finals and won promotion to the, then, Conference South. Following a spell at Rushden and Diamonds, Dreyer rejoined Stevenage alongside Graham Westley, achieving two consecutive promotions to League 1. In 2013 he joined Westley at Preston North End before moving to Northampton Town.

Kevin Davies said: “I am delighted to be appointed as the new Southport FC Manager. This is a great opportunity and the timing is right for me to step into management. Over my 22 year playing career I was privileged to work under some fantastic managers, including four who managed England. My career was built on hard work, passion and a strong desire to do whatever it takes to win a game of football. There is lots of hard work ahead and it is a challenge that I am relishing. This is a very exciting time to be involved with Southport FC with new investment to develop the stadium and infrastructure. Football is about creating memories and I, along with my assistant John Dreyer, players and staff, will be working tirelessly to take the club forward in a positive direction.”

Chairman James Treadwell said: “As promised, the Board has conducted a thorough and detailed interview and due diligence process. At every stage Kevin & John came across fantastically well, between them they have a wealth of football knowledge at playing, coaching and management level, a good knowledge of our level of football and above, which is crucial as we embark on our journey upwards. We were particularly impressed with Kevin’s football and Management philosophy, his thorough research of Southport Football Club, and his thoughts and aspirations on how he wants to take the footballing side forward, notwithstanding his impressive contact book within the game. We are delighted to be able to give this opportunity to a young, hungry upcoming Manager with huge ambition to make a mark with Southport Football Club , and take us forward on the pitch, and we are excited as a Board that they have agreed to join our team.”

Phil Hodgkinson said: “This is the beginning of a new era of Southport Football Club, and a statement of our intent to inject vibrancy, new ways of thinking and a different more modern approach to the football club, both on and off the pitch. A lot of water has passed under the bridge in recent months, but I ask that all fans old and new, those who have and still are staying away, and the local population to come and support your football club, it is time to leave the past exactly where it should be, behind us, with thanks to those who have ensured that the town has had a football club for the last 136 years, and move on. We are taking this Southport FC on an exciting journey and we need the support of the town to enable that to happen. A football club is nothing without the support of the local community, and so we ask for that support in numbers, with our pledge that we will deliver on our plans. It would be wonderful to see a big turnout on Saturday to welcome the new management team, and show them what the club can mean to the town of Southport.”