Forgotten former Premier League star, 35, resigns as manager of non-league club after two and a half years
EX-PREM ace Ryan Shotton has left his role at Hanley Town FC.
The former Stoke City and Middlesborough star joined the non-league club as a player in 2021.
Shotton teamed up with assistant Ben Chapman to take the reins as player/manager the following year.
Hanley currently play in the Northern Premier League Division One West, the eighth tier of English football.
The pair helped steer the club to 16th and 13th-placed finishes over the past two seasons.
But Shotton leaves with Hanley currently third from bottom of the table.
They occupy one of the relegation spots with just six points from a possible 27.
Club chairman Ron McIlreavy wrote on X: “I cannot thank Ryan and Ben enough for their efforts over the past 2 and a half years.
“Keeping us in the league during their first attempt at management and breaking records for where the club finished in the league and also FA Trophy success.
“They are two fantastic men first and foremost and fantastic ambassadors for Hanley Town Football Club.
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“I wish them both every success in whatever they do next.”
Shotton began his playing career with boyhood club Stoke.
He spent seven seasons with the Potters, six of those in the Premier League.
A versatile defender, Shotton spent periods out on loan with the Derby, Tranmere, and Wigan.
The 35-year-old memorably scored in Europe and landed an FA Cup runner’s up medal during his time at the bet365 Stadium.
He later played for Boro and Birmingham City, before dropping to non-league with Leek Town.
Shotton enjoyed a brief short stint in Australia with Melbourne Victory before joining up with Hanley in 2021.
Alongside his player/manager role at the club, Shotton co-owns a nearby pub with his father-in-law.
He said in 2018: “The father-in-law used to go there from when he was 18, he was a big fan and it got refurbished.
“A guy bought it and said to us, ‘I can’t manage it, I’ll sell it to you two (me and David) and I said, ‘Why not?’
“It’s a brilliant little boozer, proper little country pub, two fires, brilliant.”