Dean Holtham has been appointed as the new manager of BetVictor Southern League Premier Division Central club Alvechurch. Holtham will appoint his permanent assistant after the Coalville Town game next Tuesday.
Chairman, Richard Thorndike “We considered enquiries from a number of candidates, some from higher up the pyramid but we feel that Dean is the right man for the job given the challenges which lie ahead.
“After working with the group for two weeks, Dean was brutally honest and stated that the squad wasn’t strong enough to compete properly at this level. The league doesn’t lie and the reason we are where we are currently is obvious. He has already moved to bring some players in and will look to move some out soon.”
Defensively, `Church has been fairly sound with one of the better ‘goals against’ records but they have been struggling to find the net. As such it was clear which area of the park needed addressing.
Jazz Luckie is a strong forward player who Holtham has worked with before and has already scored 9 goals from 12 games for Uhlsport United Counties League Premier Division side Rugby Town this season, had already arrived last week. And he has been joined by Louis Monaghan, an exciting forward who scored against Alvechurch for Redditch United this season and has enormous potential to be a top player.
Monaghan joined Redditch in September from Northern Premier League Division One South East outfit Sutton Coldfield Town.
Striker Kieran Cook returns from league rivals Stourbridge. Cook moved to the Glassboys in June. He originally joined `Church in 2018 after impressing for Wednesfield in the West Midlands (Regional) League. He netted 12 times on his first season at Step 3 level and is considered as one to watch in the future.
Joe Hull joins from another league rival, Bromsgrove Sporting. He is a no-nonsense centre-back, superb in both boxes and will be a real asset now that Jamie Willets has moved on. The 27-year-old signed for Sporting from Rushall Olympic in June. He had linked up with the Pics in October 2016 from Stourbridge, following a loan stint at Tividale. Joined the Glassboys in February 2016 from Halesowen Town and made 21 appearances for the club. Prior to the Yeltz, he also had spells with Bromsgrove Rovers, Kidderminster Harriers, Redditch United and Hinckley United.
