Rob Elliot grew into his Gateshead role as club face huge challenge to replace him
Deep in the bowels of Wembley Stadium, an emotionally drained Rob Elliot emerged from the home dressing room, FA Trophy in hand, a place in Gateshead history secured.
Just under half an hour earlier, Dajaune Brown had struck the winning penalty in Gateshead’s FA Trophy Final win against National League rivals Solihull Moors to ensure the Tynesiders became only the second North East club to win non-league’s premier cup competition.
Despite still carry an interim tag, Elliot, at last, seemed as ease in management. Still taking time to bemoan decisions made by the officials, the former Newcastle United goalkeeper pushed the focus on to his playing squad and his backroom staff.
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There was an inkling of pride in his personal achievement of becoming the first Gateshead manager to win under the famous arch - but that was cut short as praise was quickly deflected towards the likes of Louis Storey and Carl Magnay, who had assisted Elliot during his interim reign.
Rewind the clock back to just over a year ago, Elliot sat awkwardly in the managers office at the International Stadium. A state of shock and emptiness enveloped the Heed’s home following the departure of Mike Williamson and Ian Watson to MK Dons.
Elliot seemed awkward in his role as interim manager, even urging against printing any comments that could be taken out of context or make him look foolish. Yet with that initial nervousness cast aside, and the conversation flowing around what could lie ahead during a venture into the unknown for club and interim manager, Elliot eased through the following half-hour and seemed increasingly assured as time wore on.
The same could be said of his reign with Gateshead, where key departures in the January transfer window brought a trouble period where, outwardly at least, the Heed boss kept his cool in a challenging environment.
There was frustration, not least over the cruel decision that robbed his side of a chance to compete in the National League play-offs. But there was a fierce determination to focus on development, improvement and progress - and even though some Gateshead supporters will be disappointed by his departure, there can be no arguing Elliot helped achieve all three goals during his year in charge.
His departure sees Gateshead venture back into the unknown and the club’s supporter-led ownership group, who have been near faults since rescuing their club from the brink five years ago, now face a new challenge. Both Williamson and Elliot were ‘in the building’ when it came to the first two appointments of their ownership - but now, there is no obvious candidate with the Gateshead setup.
Ben Clark, a trusted hand and a club legend, will take interim charge and, such is his standing, will be backed to the hilt by the International Stadium faithful. It seems unlikely he will want to take on the role full-time - and that would present a challenge in itself.