Former Championship defender Ryan Shotton, who previously played for Birmingham City, Derby County, and Stoke City, has stepped down from his role as manager of non-league club Hanley Town after two years in charge.
The announcement was made on Wednesday, October 2, marking the end of Shotton’s three-year association with the club, having joined them as a player in 2021. At the time of his departure, Hanley Town, competing in the Northern Premier League West Division (the eighth tier of English football), sit third from the bottom and occupy a relegation spot, just two points away from safety with only six points from a possible 27.
Club chairman Ron McIlreavy expressed his gratitude to Shotton and his assistant Ben Chapman, stating, “I cannot thank Ryan and Ben enough for their efforts over the past 2 and a half years, keeping us in the league during their first management attempt and breaking records for where the club finished in the league and FA Trophy success.”
During his tenure, Shotton led Hanley Town to 16th and 13th-place finishes, and his departure comes just days before their FA Trophy third qualifying round tie against Basford United.
This was Shotton’s first managerial role in football, having served as a player-manager for the club based in his hometown of Stoke-on-Trent. He began his professional career at Stoke City, making 70 appearances between 2007 and 2015. After leaving for Derby County, Shotton had brief stints at Birmingham City and Middlesbrough, where he made 87 appearances before finishing his professional career in England. Following a short spell with Melbourne Victory in Australia, he returned to non-league football with Hanley Town in 2021.
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