Familiar face returns as Altrincham's director of football

While football’s future remains shrouded in uncertainty, the outlook for Alty looks brighter than ever after Esteva’s reappointment 16 months after he stepped down due to family and work constraints on his time.

As founder and managing director of sports data specialists TSZ Data Services and TSZ Content, his knowledge and input has always been highly valued by manager Phil Parkinson and assistant Neil Sorvel, and he can’t wait to put his expertise at their disposal on a regular basis once more.

"I’ve always worked closely with Phil and Neil, and my role will be to continue supporting them to take our team and club on to the next level," he said.

‘My primary role will again be football and all that side of things, and I’m delighted to be rejoining the board at such a critical time for the club in so many ways. I’ve remained in touch with everybody since stepping down, and I’ve continued to support Phil and the coaching team.

"Now that my second daughter has turned one, and with Euro 2020 now being postponed, I have more time on my hands to commit to the club and help take things forward.

"I’ve had regular conversations with Bill Waterson and Lawrence Looney over the last year, and I am excited by their vision and ambition for the club.

"I’m a hugely ambitious person myself. The main reason I stepped down was that I refuse to sit on the board and be inactive and passive due to my unavailability…that is not my style, nor would I accept it from anybody else as a custodian of the club.

"We’re forming a really strong board right now, and, despite all the uncertainty in football and in life, there’s no better time to push some key plans forward wherever possible.

"I hope to play an important role in what is an exciting future."

Fellow-director Bill Waterson said: 'Working with Rob over the last few weeks has reminded me just how much we have missed his contribution. He gets things done, and his energy, drive and creativity lifts all of us.'