Bates will be a familiar face to the Baldock faithful as he came on board
mid-November last year as assistant manager and played an important role in the
change in fortunes on the pitch - his coaching experience and network of
players were a pivotal to the turnaround.
A
former professional footballer with Colchester United, Bates is a UEFA
qualified coach who is well known to the Spartan South Midland League having
previously managed both Langford and Stotfold.
He
has a proven track record of developing young talent and progressing them into
the first team which he did successfully at Stotfold with his under-18 side
before taking the first team manager’s job shortly afterwards and promoting
their young talent.
Bates’
history of youth progression and creating opportunity will bode well for
Baldock following the April announcement of the new EJA sides from under-13
through to under-18.
Bates
has wasted no time in securing his backroom team for the 2020/21 season.
He
has retained the services of goalkeeper coach Stuart Howard and physio India
Bunnage, who completed the 2019/20 season at Baldock Town.
Ercan
Mehmet returns to the club as assistant manager.
He was goalkeeper coach last season before leaving to join Southern League
Division One Central side Welwyn Garden City in December 2019.
He
is an outfield and goalkeeper coach with experience playing and coaching in
Malta, Gibraltar and more locally at Hadley.
Another
returnee is Danny Hutchins as first team coach.
Hutchins
started last season as first team coach before leaving to take a role at Southern
League Premier Division South outfit Hayes & Yeading United in November
2019.
He
is former professional footballer for Tottenham Hotspur and Yeovil Town who now
divides his time between coaching and working for Crystal Palace as an academy scout.
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