The popular duo both previously served the club with distinction as players with Leon holding the record for the most appearances for the Club and we are delighted to welcome them back to the War Memorial Athletic Ground in their new roles and hope that the fans will give them a warm reception on Saturday when we host Lowestoft Town and their full backing and support from the stands going forward with plenty still to play for this season.

Interim-manager Lewis Solly will remain with the club and resume his goalkeeping coach role, while Scott Adey-Linforth will step up from working with Phil Clinton’s youth team to become the new first-team coach.

Stuart, now 39, has been with Coalville Town since leaving Stourbridge in the summer of 2019 in the wake of Gary Hackett’s resignation. The evergreen central defender chalked up 165 appearances (152 + 13 sub) and scored 14 times in his four seasons with the Glassboys after joining us from Brackley Town ahead of the 2015/16 campaign. He has also seen service with the likes of Halesowen Town, Stafford Rangers, Nuneaton Borough, Solihull Moors and Leamington.

Leon also left the Glassboys that same summer to join Bromsgrove Sporting after a remarkable sixteen seasons in our colours (bar a couple of short stints away at Bromsgrove Rovers and Leamington) which saw him chalk up a club record 780 appearances (738 + 42 sub) and score 154 goals as the Glassboys climbed two levels. He enjoyed a well-deserved testimonial back in April 2014. Now 37, Leon has continued to feature regularly for Sporting since his move, either in central defence or his more familiar midfield role.

Chairman Andy Pountney commented: “I would like to thank Lewis, Lee and Darryl for seeing us through the last few days and galvanising the squad to two very welcome wins at Royston and Tividale.”

He continued: “I am really pleased to announce the appointment of Stuart and Leon as our new joint-managers. Their ethics, drive and professionalism has always been second-to-none. They were popular figures during their time with us before as players with Stuart being our club captain. They know the Club and the supporters. I feel that in the last couple of years for one reason and another – and covid hasn’t helped – we’ve lost some of our ‘DNA’ and identity. I want to see us playing entertaining, hard, but fair football and with the players enjoying being a part of it and playing with a smile on their faces.”

Andy added: “This is their first time as managers however Stuart and Leon boast considerable experience of this level. They know the players and their characters having shared dressing rooms with many of their colleagues over the years. They have a good knowledge of the opposition we’ll be coming up against. In leaving us in 2019 they have also since got to work with different managers and coaches and look at their methods. I believe that this will also stand them in good stead. I’m delighted to get this over the line today and excited to see what they can achieve.”