Gateshead captain Kenton Richardson confirms new deal talks
Gateshead captain Kenton Richardson has opened up on his future with the club.
Gateshead captain Kenton Richardson is in talks over extending his stay with the National League club.
The former Sunderland and Hartlepool United defender has enjoyed a successful stint with the Heed after he joined them just months after they had secured a return to non-league’s top tier as National League North champions in 2022. Richardson was part of the side that reached the FA Trophy final during his first season with the club before a narrow loss to FC Halifax Town ended any thoughts of lifting silverware.
However, a more profitable visit to Wembley came 12 months later as Rob Elliot’s side did get their hands on the Trophy with a penalty shoot-out win against National League rivals Solihull Moors. Richardson, who has also enjoyed three visits to the FA Cup first round with Gateshead, was named as club captain following Greg Olley’s departure last summer and has fronted up on a consistent basis during what has been a challenging season at the International Stadium.
The 26-year-old played a key role in helping his side complete a miraculous escape from relegation as they recovered from sitting 11 points from safety in mid-February to being eight points clear of the drop zone with only Saturday’s visit to Altrincham left to play. Richardson will not feature in the final game of the campaign as he continues to recover from an injury he suffered in the Good Friday draw at Carlisle United - but he is keen to remain a key part of the Heed setup once this season is consigned to the history books.
Speaking to The Echo, the Heed skipper said: “I am currently in talks with the club. I love it here, there’s no secret about that. It feels like home to me and I’ve got a great relationship with the staff, my team-mates, the coaches and the fans. It’s something I enjoy, I love being here and talks are ongoing so hopefully we can get something sorted as soon as possible.”
Gateshead will also be without key midfielder Keaton Ward for their trip to Altrincham on Saturday as he also focuses his attention on returning for pre-season training after picking up an injury in the final fortnight of the campaign.
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