NEWS: Shaun Wilkes Joins Coaching Staff
Ryan Beswick has made his first signing, in the shape of former Ingles Manager Shaun Wilkes. After guiding the Shepshed based club to the step six playoffs, Wilkes has agreed to join Reds as they look to go one step further than last season.
“It was a difficult decision to leave Ingles” admitted Wilkes, “but this is too good an opportunity to turn down.” Affectionately known as “Wilko”, Shaun took over at the Homestead Ground around Christmas in the 2021/22 season, with Ingles engulfed in a relegation battle. After guiding the club to safety as caretaker Manager, he was given the position permanently in the summer.
With the club moved laterally into the Midland Football League Division One, Wilkes improved the clubs fortunes, finishing 13th in a tougher division. The upward trend continued last season with a 4th place finish, though the side suffered a playoff semi-final defeat to OJM Black Country, who would go on to earn promotion to step five.
Born in Sileby, Wilkes now resides in Loughborough, where, aside from working towards an Accountancy qualification, he also runs his own business, SW Sports Therapy. The hardworking 33 year old quit playing football at the age of 18, admitting “I discovered I had more of a passion for coaching.”
He didn’t have to wait long for his first Managerial role, taking the reigns at Sileby Saints in 2010. It didn’t take him long to leave his mark, guiding the Saints from the North Leicestershire League to the Leicestershire Senior League Premier Division. Wilkes then managed Wymeswold FC for two more seasons, before his first stint at Ingles, as Assistant to Matt Smith. Heading back home, Shaun took over at Sileby Athletic, where he twice finished second in the Senior League, before returning to Ingles.
“I’m a good people person” explained Wilkes when asked about coaching much older players “that has helped me relate to people and negotiate my way through difficult situations. It helped carry me through my first few jobs, but I’d like to think that my achievements speak for themselves now. I’m here because I’ve earned it.”
“I’ve known Ryan for a long time, and I’ve played Sunday league football with Matt (Green). People might look at the three of us and wonder if we have the experience, but Bez has been there and done it, and learned under several good Managers, and I’ve racked up over 100 games as a Manager in step six, so this feels like a natural progression for me. If you’re good enough, you’re old enough.”