Taylor to assist Steelmen boss Wright while Clarke makes a welcome return

The experienced midfielder, who has captained the Steelmen for the past two seasons, will now join Tommy Wright’s backroom staff while also having a role to play on the pitch.

It is the first significant change Wright has made following the club’s relegation from the Vanarama National League North.

And, in a further boost, former assistant-boss David Clarke will also be returning to the club as goalkeeper coach.

Clarke is continuing to be treated after he was diagnosed with leukaemia last year, which resulted in him having step back from his role at the club.

But he will now be back at Steel Park, much to the delight of boss Wright.

Liam O’Neill, who had been working alongside the Steelmen manager during the latter part of the season, has left the club.

And Wright said: “I am wary of the fact that we have gone down a division and I just think it needs freshening up a bit in the backroom staff.

“I want to thank Liam because he is a great character who came in and he was a big help. He has been great but we do need a fresh start.

“We are bringing Cleveland into it as assistant-manager but he will still have a role to play on the pitch as well.

“He is very close to the players and I am hoping his positive influence and the way the lads look up to him will show itself in his new role.

“Dave is well and the most important thing from his point of view is that he has been able to get back to work.

“But I think what transpired on the pitch over the season hit him hard and he now in a position where he can come back into things.

“His exact words to me were ‘I am winning my battle and I want you to start winning your’s’. It will be great to see him back.”

Wright, meanwhile, has paid tribute to the club’s youth team after they won the overall Northants Senior Youth League championship for a fourth time.

The Steelboys beat Cogenhoe United 4-1 in the play-off final at the Dog & Duck in Wellinborough on Tuesday night.

Corby, who won the East Division, were 2-0 up at half-time thanks to goals from Sekou Kromah and Patrick Campbell.

Rhys Taylor reduced the deficit from the penalty spot five minutes into the second half.

But Graham Leech’s side pounced twice more through CG Tanga Gibson and Brad Marshall to complete the victory.

And Wright added: “It’s a great achievement for the young lads.

“The academy and youth team have probably been the big plus points from the season for the club and we have also seen the women’s team win their league at the first attempt.

“It’s been a disappointing time for the first team and it’s up to us to start matching what the other teams within the club are doing.

“There are some good lads in the academy and the youth team and I think some of them have benefited from being exposed to first-team football during the season.”