Shropshire Star

Martyn Davies back as Market Drayton boss

Martyn Davies has returned as Market Drayton manager – just over two months after his controversial sacking.

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Davies is back after the departure of his successor Carl Abbott, with another former manager Simon Line also returning to oversee the rebuild of the crisis-hit club.

Drayton were beaten 4-0 at Stamford on Saturday, where they had to draft in several members of their reserve team – who play four tiers below.

Davies had recently become joint-boss at Whitchurch Alport but admitted the lure of Drayton was too strong.

He will be backed by a new chairman, former Colwyn Bay, Clitheroe, Kidsgrove Athletic and Northwich Victoria manager Paul Moore, who has been named as the successor to Ben Cookham following an emergency meeting last Tuesday.

A successful businessman who managed in the Northern Premier League for 14 years and can name Portsmouth and Hull City among his former clubs as a player, officials say Moore is “both excited and looking forward to his first administration role with Market Drayton Town”.

Davies's sacking at the start of October had ended his 18-year association with the club as player, coach and manager.

He previously guided the club to a record 11th-place finish in the Evo-Stik First Division South last season.

After leaving Drayton he joined the management team at Shawbury but quickly opted to move on to Alport in the North West Counties League.

Abott’s short tenure at the club was ill-fated. Players protested against the sacking of Davies and he won just two of his 10 games in charge.