Hartlepool United first team coach signs contract extension
Hartlepool United first team coach Elliott Dickman has signed a contract extension at Victoria Park, extending his spell in the North East until at least the end of the season.
The club have confirmed that they hold an option to extend Dickman's deal following an impressive start to his spell at Pools.
Dickman joined Pools at the beginning of October, a week before the sacking of former boss Simon Grayson, following the sudden and unexpected departure of Neil McDonald.
To say the 47-year-old has been thrown in at the deep end would be an understatement, with Dickman finding himself as part of a cobbled together coaching staff including Featherstone and veteran goalkeeper Adam Smith less than a fortnight into his time at Victoria Park.
While Dickman, who has spent time working in the academies of both Newcastle and Sunderland and took charge of National League North side South Shields last season, was initially touted as a candidate for the permanent Pools manager's job, he appears to have established himself as a vital member of Featherstone's new coaching staff.
Indeed, Pools have gone from strength-to-strength since Dickman's arrival and had been on a run of seven matches unbeaten prior to Saturday's defeat at the hands of a resurgent Yeovil.
"I'm delighted to sign a new deal with the club and continue working as part of Nicky's coaching team," Dickman told the official Pools club website.
"Nicky has been excellent to work with, and I believe the work we've done so far has been really positive.
"His leadership and the culture he's creating around the group have stood out, and we're very aligned in how we see the game.
"He gives me the freedom to coach in the way I believe in and to contribute to the environment and standards we're building together.
"I'm excited about what we can achieve as a group and the foundations we can continue to put in place for the longer term."
Meanwhile, Featherstone added that he was "delighted" following news of Dickman's new deal, hailing him as "an excellent coach with a strong track record in the game and a real ability to get his message across to players".