Mark Atkins

Shrewsbury manager Kevin Ratcliffe resigned with one game remaining of the season, and Atkins took charge of the team as they attempted to restore some pride in a home encounter against his original club Scunthorpe United. However, Shrewsbury succumbed to a 2–1 defeat, and Atkins left at the end of the season. He continued his playing career for one more season, at non-league level with Harrogate Town, also serving as their coach, before retiring as a player in 2004. Atkins remained assistant manager at Harrogate, but both he and manager John Reed left for Stalybridge Celtic in January 2005, from where they were later dismissed in April 2007. Atkins was appointed manager at Northern Premier League club Matlock Town on 18 November 2008. He resigned along with assistant Nick Buxton on 4 October 2014 after a 4–0 defeat to Halesowen Town left Matlock Town joint bottom of the league. Atkins returned to Matlock as manager in March 2024. He is now a pundit for BBC Radio Lancashire.

Atkins was an integral part of Blackburn's rise from the old Second Division to Premier League champions in 1995. He joined Rovers for £45,000 from Scunthorpe United in 1988, being then relocated to midfielder, and staying in the team despite the big investment in new players from owner Jack Walker. His part in Blackburn's championship success is often understated. A foot injury kept midfielder David Batty out of the team until the final five matches of the 1994–95 season and Atkins played in 34 matches and scored six goals in the title season, including important ones against Liverpool and Southampton. Atkins moved on from Blackburn soon after the club's championship success, joining First Division Wolverhampton Wanderers in September 1995 for £1million. He was a first choice player throughout his time at Molineux as the club fought to reach the Premier League. He reached the play-offs with the team in 1996–97 but they lost 3–4 on aggregate to Crystal Palace, despite Atkins scoring in the return leg to give them a 2–1 win. After four seasons with Wolves, Atkins was released in 1999, joining York City in the fourth tier on a three-month contract. After leaving this expired, he had an unsuccessful trial at Reading, before training with conference side Doncaster Rovers, who subsequently offered him a deal. He remained at Doncaster for the next two seasons, and served as joint caretaker-manager (with Dave Penney) for the final five fixtures of the 1999–2000 campaign after the…

Blackburn Rovers

Premier League: 1994–95 Football League Second Division play-offs: 1992