Ron Suart

Suart took over at Wigan Athletic as player-manager, making 34 appearances in all competitions during the 1955-56 season. He left the club join Scunthorpe & Lindsey United in 1956. After leading the club to promotion as Division Three North champions in 1957-58 he returned to Blackpool — the first ex-Seasider to return to the club as manager — who were then in the First Division. "I intend to work really hard at Blackpool," he said. "I have my own plans and, with the co-operation of the directors, players, staff and public, I am sure they will work out to the good. Following a man like Joe Smith, with his wonderful record, will not be easy, but I feel confident, and the thought of managing the club I once played for gives me a great thrill." Suart managed to retain Blackpool's place in the top tier for the next eight seasons and reached the League Cup semi-finals in 1962, losing to eventual winners Norwich City. While at Blackpool, he helped unearth future England internationals Alan Ball, Ray Charnley, and Emlyn Hughes, though with the abolition of the maximum wage and the new freedom which players had, he was unable to prevent many of his star players moving on. He resigned in January 1967, four months before Blackpool were relegated to Division Two, and was succeeded by Stan Mortensen. He remains Blackpool's second-longest-serving manager behind Joe Smith. Suart became assistant manager to Tommy Docherty at Chelsea, where he spent seven years. Docherty left the club in…

Scunthorpe & Lindsey United

Division Three North: 1957–58