Sunderland youngster & summer transfer target one of 3 South Shields stars named in National League North TOTS
Three South Shields players have been named in the National League North team of the season.
On-loan Sunderland youngster Ollie Bainbridge is one of three South Shields players to be named in the National League North team of the season.
The Mariners have enjoyed a largely positive first season under the management of former Gateshead and MK Dons assistant manager Ian Watson and narrowly missed out on securing promotion into the National League. After losing out to eventual champions AFC Fylde in a dramatic title race on the final day of the campaign, Watson’s men then came up short in Saturday’s play-off final meeting with Kidderminster Harriers as the visitors claimed a 2-0 win at the 1st Cloud Arena.
However, there has been recognition for three members of the Mariners squad as left-back Bainbridge, captain Robbie Tinkler and top scorer Paul Blackett, who plundered his way to 30 league goals during the season, were all named in the official National League North team of the year. For Black Cats youngster Bainbridge, the news provides a positive end to an impressive loan spell in the second tier of the non-league game after he made over 40 appearances for the Mariners to help them reach the FA Cup first round and come so close to promotion during the campaign.
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Speaking earlier this month, Mariners boss Watson opened up on his desire to secure Bainbridge’s services on a permanent basis as the Academy of Light product approaches the final weeks of his current contract at Sunderland.
He said: “There is definitely an interest from our side. Obviously Ollie is going to have options during the summer. He’ll be leaving Sunderland so he will have a lot of options and it’s up to him what he’s going to do in terms of exploring different things. But we love him here, he’s been amazing for us, we would love to keep him here and make him a big part of what we are going to try and do at the football club - but I also understand we aren’t the only ones going to try and sign him because he has done so well.
“He will have opportunities to play elsewhere but we have to try and convince him this is the right thing and I do genuinely think this is the right thing to do to stay here and build here. I think we can develop him and make him better for the future as well.”
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