Former rookie Holtschke nets lead role at Rev

Tonks has ended his three-season stint in charge of the Oakengates Leisure Centre-based club that he led to the Division 2 National title in 2017.

Former offensive co-ordinator Holtschke has worked his way up the Revolution ranks after joining the club in 2006.

He became a key part of the offensive line before becoming offensive coach in 2012 and finished playing in 2014, eventually taking the co-ordinator position two years later.

Holtschke said: “I was very honoured to have been offered the head coach role having seen the club grow from six blokes throwing a ball around on a muddy field to the operation we have today.

“It will be a lot of hard work but I am looking forward to the challenge and building on the success of our first season back in Division 1 and building on the foundations laid by my predecessors.”

Tonks, whose side finished third in the NFC 1 South last season with a record of 6-4, revealed his pride at the strides Shropshire have made under his stewardship.

He was former special teams coach from 2011 before taking the top role in 2016. He said: “Whatever the results have been it is the relationships with members of this organisation that I have enjoyed the most.

“I have been very proud of everything and everyone at this club and I owe a great deal of thanks to all those involved over the years.”

In a further shake-up to the Revolution coaching team, a familiar face has returned to take up the vacant offensive co-ordinator role.

Former coach David Butler will fill the position formerly held by Holtschke.

Butler was most recently the offensive co-ordinator at the Sandwell Steelers and helped guide the West Midlands side through the 2015 season undefeated on their way to the national title and a further final appearance the following year.

New head coach Holtschke added: “David is a good personal friend of mine and helped me a lot behind the scenes when I was starting out as a coach, so it’s great to be able to work with him again.”

Revolution’s Great Britain linebacker Alasdair Jarvis is the club’s new defensive co-ordinator, and he is joined by former defensive lineman Daniel Hulme on the coaching staff.