Send for Shez

John Sheridan

JOHN Sheridan today starts work on a second 'SOS' mission in a year with Athletic.

The man who led the club to safety last season before leaving for Notts County, has replaced Stephen Robinson, who was confirmed as having had his contract terminated yesterday afternoon.

Chairman Simon Corney moved quickly to seal a deal for Sheridan despite strong interest from Northampton.

It means a FIFTH spell in charge at the club for the 52-year-old, including two on a caretaker basis. He takes up the reins again tomorrow for the home fixture against Gillingham at SportsDirect.com Park (3pm kick-off), but won't be in the technical area as he still has one game of a five-match touchline ban to serve from his County stint.

A statement from Corney on the club's website read: "This is obviously a difficult decision. Stephen is a talented coach who we believed could make the transition into a successful manager.

"Unfortunately things have not worked out for him or the club and we felt that a change needed to be made.

"I'd like to thank Stephen for the hard work and commitment he has shown and wish him well for the future.

BACKROOM

"John is obviously someone we know well and we hope he can have an immediate effect on our current situation."

It is not known at this stage what will happen to Robinson's backroom team, including assistant manager Ian Baraclough and goalkeeping coach Carlo Nash.

The return for Sheridan is controversial among some supporters given the way he upped sticks for Notts County and League Two last May, only four months since arriving back at Athletic to save the club from relegation along with his assistant Peter Shirtliff.

Sheridan (pictured) had earlier been linked with jobs at former clubs Bolton and Leeds.

However, his new employment turned sour and a club record nine successive defeats for the Magpies put paid to his spell at Meadow Lane only 11 days ago.

Athletic's board decided to go back to the formula which worked successfully last time out, despite Sheridan's shock departure at the end of the previous campaign.