Ex-Newcastle United defender lined up for return after South Shields exits

The former Gateshead and MK Dons assistant manager accepted his first lead managerial role when he was named as successor to former Magpies academy coach Elliot Dickman with the Mariners Park club last summer.

After inheriting a side that ended the previous season in the bottom half of the National League North table, Watson and assistant Carl Magnay pieced together a new look squad that triggered a major turnaround in fortunes.

A strong start to the season laid the foundations for what would become an unsuccessful bid for the title as the Mariners were pipped to top spot by AFC Fylde on the final day of the campaign. Further disappointment came when Watson’s side suffered a play-off final defeat against Kidderminster Harriers in what will now go down as the final game of his managerial reign.

The impact made by Watson and Magnay during their one and only season in charge of the Mariners brought interest from clubs in the National League, League One and League Two - and Mariners chairman Geoff Thompson confirmed an official approach had been received over the weekend.

It is Rochdale that made that approach following the departure of manager Jimmy McNulty to Stockport County - and Watson and Magnay officially put pen-to-paper on deals to take charge of the League Two newcomers on Tuesday evening.

A club statement released by the Mariners on Tuesday evening read: “South Shields FC can confirm that Head Coach Ian Watson and Assistant Head Coach Carl Magnay have departed the club to join League Two side Rochdale FC. While disappointed to see them leave, the Club is incredibly proud to have played a part in helping Ian and Carl progress further up the football pyramid.

“Their move is recognition of the outstanding work carried out during a historic season for the Mariners, which saw the Club achieve its highest-ever finish since reform with 95 points and a second-place finish in the Enterprise National League North. Following such a successful campaign, interest from higher levels of the game was inevitable, and we are proud to have provided the platform for both Ian and Carl to showcase their talents and take the next step in their careers.

Everyone at South Shields FC thanks Ian and Carl for their commitment and wishes them every success for the future. The club will now begin the process of appointing a new management team ahead of the 2026/27 season.”

Former Newcastle defender Williamson is already part of the management team at South Shields after initially joining as first-team coach midway through last season before taking up a newly created role as director of performance and culture last month.

The former Magpies star enjoyed a successful spell in charge of Gateshead as he guided the Heed to the National League North title, three appearances in the proper rounds of the FA Cup and a first ever FA Trophy final appearance.

Williamson and Watson left their roles at the International Stadium to take charge of MK Dons in October 2023 before overseeing an unsuccessful spell at Carlisle United just under a year later.

Prior to his move to reunite with Watson at South Shields, Williamson was also part of Russell Martin’s backroom staff at Scottish giants Rangers.

Mariners chairman Thompson has already hinted the former Magpies star could be part of a new management team at South Shields - although it is unsure whether that will be on an interim or permanent basis as it stands.

The move rounds off a hectic week for the Mariners after the ORY LLP Investment consortium led by New York-based capital markets lawyer Jason Ye paid a first visit to South Tyneside after completing a deal to become new majority shareholders of the National League North club.

Thompson will remain in his position as chairman and Ye has already revealed he is ready to overcome the challenges facing the club as they prepared for Watson and Magnay’s departures.

Speaking on Sunday as the move to Rochdale progressed, Ye said: “Geoff told me, ‘Jason, we’re not [just] partners, we’re also friends’. There will be challenges and difficult times ahead where we have to work through issues and problems and situations.

“I want to assure you that now this club, it’s not just Geoff alone. Any situation like this, we’re going to tackle it and we’re going to have a solution for it.”