Penrith AFC have announced that former professional player Chris Humphrey has been appointed the new first team manager, with Shaun Gardner returning to Frenchfield Park as his assistant.
Chairman Billy Williams presided over a round of interviews early this week following the departure of previous boss Dave “Dabba” Hewson due to family and personal reasons.
Humphrey, 34, leaves his post as manager of Kendal Town to join the Blues having previously played professionally in England for Shrewsbury Town, Preston North End and Bury; and for Motherwell and Hibernian north of the border.
He and 33-year-old Gardner, a coach and striker who has played for Penrith in several spells, will take charge of the first XI squad for Saturday’s trip to face fellow Northern League Division I strugglers Billingham Town.
Williams described the standard of applicants as “excellent”, saying: “They are always difficult decisions to be made. Chris was without doubt the right guy in my opinion to do that, to hold everything together and try to carry on the work Dabba has done.”
Humphrey, a Jamaican international, told the Herald: “It is something I am really looking forward to and I am really excited about.
“After having the interview and speaking with Billy and the other officials I can see the club going in a fantastic direction.”Gardner, who runs a coaching academy and was Humphrey’s number two at Kendal, said he was “buzzing to be back”.
“I’m absolutely made up if I’m honest,” he said.
