New Hartlepool United boss hails "absolutely brilliant" impact of "top-drawer" assistant Elliott Dickman
New Hartlepool United manager Nicky Featherstone has hailed the "brilliant" impact of "top-drawer" assistant Elliott Dickman.
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.
Although Featherstone, with good reason, has taken many of the plaudits following the impressive recent turnaround in both performances and results, the 37-year-old was keen to emphasise Dickman's impact after he was appointed as the club's permanent manager last week.
"Elliott has been brilliant, he's been absolutely top-drawer for me," Featherstone told the official Pools club website.
"He's your hands-on, day-to-day coach, I pretty much manage the group and the players.
"Elliott's a top, top coach with a lot of experience at both men's and academy level.
"He understands modern-day coaching and he's been absolutely brilliant for me."