Gavin Richard Skelton (born 27 March 1981) is an English football coach, manager, and former professional footballer. As a player, he was primarily deployed as a defensive midfielder. He is the first-team coach of Carlisle United.
Skelton began his managerial career at Workington. After a stint as assistant manager at Queen of the South, Skelton was then manager of the club from April to November 2016.
Due to Gretna's financial difficulties, in April 2008 it was reported that Skelton was in talks with Kilmarnock and Aberdeen[3] On 19 May 2008, Skelton was one of the remaining 40 staff members who were released by Gretna.[4] Two days earlier, Skelton had scored the winning goal on his side's final SPL fixture against Hearts.[5] In June 2008, Skelton signed for SPL side Kilmarnock but left the club under freedom of contract in June 2010.[6]
After his release from Killie, Skelton signed for Hamilton Academical.[7] He was released by Hamilton following their relegation from the SPL in May 2011 and signed for Barrow on 6 July 2011.[8]
In order to gain coaching and managerial experience, Skelton coached the Stirling University team part-time, whilst playing for Kilmarnock.
Skelton was appointed as the manager of Workington in May 2014, replacing Ian MacDonald.[10] He had joined the Reds as a player-coach in 2013.[11] Skelton led the Borough Park side to the Northern Premier League Play-offs in his only full season in charge,[12] finally falling to Ilkeston in front of 1,500 supporters at Borough Park.
Skelton left Workington in June 2015 to be the assistant manager at Queen of the South in Dumfries.[12][13] Skelton was appointed caretaker manager of Queens on 18 April 2016 after James Fowler departed the club.[14] Just over a month later, Skelton was appointed Queens player-manager on a permanent basis on 23 May 2016.[15] Skelton resigned from Queens on 7 November 2016 for personal reasons.[16]
Skelton joined Carlisle United as the coach of their academy in May 2017.[17]
On 31 December 2018, Skelton was reappointed manager of Workington, however he resigned in January 2019 after just six days and two games in charge of the club.[18]
On 4 June 2019, Carlisle United announced that they had appointed Skelton as assistant manager.[19] He served as caretaker manager for two games, and signed a contract extension in November 2019.[20]
Personal life
Skelton married Rebecca on 12 June 2015 and the couple had a son during the summer of 2016. They live together in Appleby-in-Westmorland in Cumbria. Skelton's sister, Helen, is a television presenter and broadcaster who formerly worked on the popular children's television programme Blue Peter.