Enterprise National League North side Marine AFC are pleased to confirm the appointment of Jimmy Holmes as our new Director of Football on a two-year contract.
Jimmy brings extensive knowledge and a deep network of contacts, built over many years in football recruitment, to the club. Having previously served as Head of Recruitment at Macclesfield, Bury, and South Shields, as well as holding key youth recruitment and Academy roles at Manchester City and Morecambe, he has established a proven track record. This involves strategic planning and an ability to spot talented, hard-working individuals who fit the right profile for the clubs he has worked for.
Jimmy will oversee our first-team football department. He will utilise his expertise to work closely with first-team manager Bobby Grant and the Board of Directors, taking a leading role in long-term squad assembly and helping to identify, track, and secure the talent needed to move the first team forward.
On his appointment, Jimmy Holmes said:
“I’m pleased to join Marine as Director of Football. When I first heard about the interest from the club and the plans explained for the future, it was something that I was keen to be a part of. Marine has a reputation for being a club that prides itself on continuity and doing things in the right way, as shown with the eight years Neil was at the club. Bobby agreeing to a new long-term deal also gives me an opportunity to work with him and his staff to continue building on the foundations that are already in place.
“I’ve spent many years in recruitment and have been fortunate to work alongside some fantastic chairmen, directors of football, managers, and head coaches. Now, I feel the time is right for me to step into this role and implement my own plans for how recruitment and structural strategy should be done.
“Assembling a competitive squad is a massive part of what I want to achieve here. It’s not just about finding players for today; it’s about putting a foundation in place for sustainable squad planning over the coming seasons.
“It’s a fantastic club with a brilliant fanbase and some really hard-working people behind the scenes. With the budgets most other clubs are working with, we have to keep our fingers on the pulse and think outside the box to bridge the gap between us and the bigger clubs in the division. My focus is identifying those individuals who can come in and help the club move in the right direction.”
James Leary, CEO, said:
“I am delighted Jimmy has agreed to join us on the next phase of our journey. Jimmy is somebody I have massive respect for and trust implicitly. His knowledge of players is second to none and his record in recruitment speaks for itself. I am looking forward to working with Jimmy over the years ahead as we move into a really important period for the football club with the stadium plans.”
Please note that as of Monday 22nd June 2026, Neil Young officially stepped down from his position as Director of Football at Marine AFC.