Billingham Synthonia management duo leave to join Guisborough Town

Billingham Synthonia (green and white) are searching for a new manager following the departure of Steve Bell and Paul Crager

The duo took over at Synners earlier this year and have helped the club into a position to challenge for promotion in Division Two this season.

After a hectic summer in the transfer market, their new look squad has won four of their last five games to move within one place and one point of a top-four position.

However, Bell and Crager will now focus on Guisborough improve on their poor early-season form as they sit fifth from bottom in the Northern League’s top tier.

Bell explained that he was disappointed to be leaving Synners but revealed that the draw of a move to Guisborough was “too good” to resist.

He told The Priorymen website: “Paul and I are very excited at the prospect of leading such a highly-respected club as Guisborough Town. This is a great opportunity for us, and we can’t wait to get started.

“I really enjoyed my time when I played for Guisborough around the early 2000’s and the club has always had a place in my heart since then.

“On behalf of Paul and myself, I would also like to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to Billingham Synthonia – they have been absolutely fantastic to me and Paul ever since we joined the club.

“In one sense we’re sorry to be leaving the Synners but the chance to join Guisborough Town was just too good for the two of us.”

Following the announcement of the suspension of non-league football until December 2 due to the latest Covid-19 lockdown restrictions, Guisborough chairman Don Cowan said: “Naturally we are very disappointed at this unwelcome news. But Steve and Paul will be taking up their duties with immediate effect and we look forward very much to hopefully when we can resume our football again in December with our new management team at the helm in December.

Bell and Crager, who are both Middlesbrough-born and live in Marton, were in charge at Teesside neighbours Thornaby until January this year. They then both moved to Billingham Synthonia – whom they have guided into an impressive promotion-chasing position so far this season.