The former Toon star pushing for promotion in first managerial role

Former Mag Rob Elliot is thriving in his first managerial role as his Gateshead side moved five points from the automatic promotion spots to League Two with a game in hand.

The Heed beat local rivals Hartlepool 7-1 last week before overcoming Rochdale 1-0 on Good Friday to make it three wins on the spin. Today's game at Fylde was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, but they are in with a very real chance of being promoted to the Football League.

Elliot played 55 times for the Toon in his nine years at the club, which saw him play in Europe, lift the Championship trophy and win our player of the season award for 2015/16.

It hasn't been an easy ride for Elliot since taking the reins at Gateshead. He was called upon after another former Mag, Mike Williamson, was poached by MK Dons in October. Heed were sitting sixth and playing some great football at the time.

Elliot was named interim head coach in the aftermath and saw a couple of their first team squad also poached by the Dons. But, only five months on from the departure of Williamson, the club are still on the rise and are ones to watch over the final few weeks of the National League season.

Their stunning 7-1 win last week caused former Sunderland striker Kevin Phillips, now managing Pools, to apologise to the fans.

Gateshead came closest to securing League football 10 years ago, losing 2-1 to Cambridge United in the 2013-14 playoff final at Wembley.