Norman is the former boss of the all-conquering Mersey Royal team, and we are pleased to welcome Phill Hayward back to the KRCT Ltd Stadium as his assistant. The club is also happy to confirm that Coach Jack Sharpe and Physio Richard Hawitt will remain in their roles and complete Norman’s backroom team.

Norman takes charge with immediate effect, and his first game in charge will be at home to the league leaders Stafford Town on Saturday 26 October.

The club received a high calibre of applications, and would like to thank all who expressed their interest in the role.

Norman stood out for his remarkable achievements during a six-year spell at Mersey Royal and his unparalleled knowledge of football on the Wirral.

Chairman Alf Roberts said: “We are thrilled to welcome Glyn to the club, together with Phill.

“With his proven track record of building successful teams, we are confident he is the perfect appointment to lead the club forward.”

Norman took over the managerial position at Mersey Royal in 2018 with the club languishing towards the foot of the West Cheshire League Third Division. What followed was a spell of consistent success, as Norman developed a young and talented squad which was renowned for its strong team spirit. He will be reunited with several members of that side at the KRCT Ltd Stadium.

Under Norman’s leadership, Mersey Royal went from strength-to-strength, achieving back-to-back promotions to the West Cheshire League First Division in 2018/19 and 2019/20.

That would be only the start of the story, as Norman guided the club to the First Division title in 2021/22, marking the first time in Mersey Royal’s 75-year history they had won the West Cheshire League’s highest honour.

Mersey Royal successfully defended their title in 2022/23, and also won back-to-back Cheshire Amateur Cups and the Northern Counties Cup representing Cheshire.

Ground grading requirements meant Mersey Royal were unable to make the next step up to the North West Counties Football League, but following a short break after leaving his previous role earlier this year, Norman is ready to take on the next challenge in his successful career.

“It is a huge honour to be appointed as Manager of Birkenhead’s most historic and famous non-league Football Club,” Norman said.

“It was an incredible journey at Mersey Royal, and many of the players now at Lairds were a vital part of that.

“The dream is of course to repeat that success here. We know it is an extremely competitive league, but I am an ambitious manager and simply cannot wait to get started.”

Re-joining the club as Assistant Manager is Hayward, who previously served as First Team Coach at Lairds under the management of Phil Burton from 2019-2020 and proved a popular figure at the KRCT Ltd Stadium.

Hayward has since played an integral part in Mersey Royal’s success with Norman, and is one of the most respected and talented young coaches in the local area.

Alongside his Assistant Managerial duties, Hayward is completing an epic 365-day challenge which requires him to run 10km each day bare-footed, all in aid of Alzheimer’s Society. Please consider supporting him here.

Welcome Glyn, and welcome back Phill!