Malcolm Crosby: Gateshead name ex-Sunderland boss as manager

Conference club Gateshead have named Malcolm Crosby as their new manager.

The ex-Sunderland boss, who had been head of recruitment at Blackpool since November, has signed a one-year rolling deal with The Heed and replaces Gary Mills, who left for Wrexham in April.

"I'm ambitious and believe I can bring success," Crosby told the club website., external

Crosby, 60, took caretaker charge of Birmingham for two games in October after Lee Clark's sacking, losing 2-0 to Blackburn and 8-0 to Bournemouth.

He was also a caretaker boss at Oxford United, in 1997, and Northampton, in March 2011.

The former Aldershot and York City midfielder led Sunderland to the 1992 FA Cup final as a manger but left the Wearside club in January the following year.

Gateshead were recently taken over by business owners Richard and Julie Bennett.

"I have got to sit down with the chairman and talk about the squad," Crosby added.

"I do not want to make massive changes, because the players have done well as a group over the last couple of years.

"I'll be looking to bring in an assistant within the next week."

Gateshead finished 10th in the Conference in 2014-15, 13 points below the play-off places.