Brian Talbot has resigned from his role at Rushden and Diamonds and is to become Athletic’s seventh manager in the last decade. Talbot will be unveiled at a press conference at Boundary Park on Wednesday and is expected to sign a contract which will keep him at Boundary Park until the summer of 2006. Talbot took R & D from the Conference to respectability in the Second Division in his seven year reign at Nene Park. He has experienced building success on a shoestring and although Athletic’s new owners have pledged that finances will be made available for team building it is not expected to be a huge amount. Talbot played for Arsenal and Ipswich and his first steps in management began at West Bromwich Albion 16 years ago. He then had a spell in Malta before taking over at Rushden.
Caretaker manager John Sheridan is expected to be offered a contract as Talbot’s assistant. Sheridan said, “The new manager is coming in, and I’ve been asked to work with him. I did want the job full-time but there’s a different offer on the table and hopefully things will work out. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this experience and hopefully I’ll get a full-time job myself in the next few years. Circumstances meant it came earlier than expected and the board think it’s best to bring someone in — I’m still learning and I’ll give the appointment my full support.”