BARTLEY Green Illey have announced the appointment of Aaron Blackwood as the club's new manager.

He will be joined by Tony Round as assistant manager/head coach at the club near Halesowen.

Blackwood joins the club as a young up and coming manager which fits in with the club's ethos of developing talented individuals and giving people a chance to grow and learn.

He has gained experience at Stratford Town and Kidderminster Harriers before managing a successful Studley under 18s, where Tony Round was involved with coaching duties. Round is also well regarded at the teams he has worked, and has also been involved with first team training at Studley FC.

On his appointment, Blackwood said: “I am delighted to be joining Bartley Green Illey Football Club and I look forward to helping the club move in the right direction. A big part of the work ahead is on the training ground and I look forward to meeting the players and getting started. There is real potential here and hopefully exciting times ahead.”

Upon securing the role, the management duo quickly identified new signings, and snapped up forward Luke Reynolds, Orrin Pendley, a promising young defender, signed on dual-registration from Bromsgrove Sporting, Ryan Edwards, a defender previously at the Gordon Strachan Academy, and forward Connor Rabone.

Seb Timmins joined them from Worcester City under 18's as well as Ben Welsh, George Tolley, and Tom Emblem from Studley under 18s.

They all follow the recent arrivals of JJ Evans, Matthew Harper, and Russell Brooks from Sunday club Sporting Rednal.