Richard Dryden

Managerial and coaching career Dryden was appointed assistant manager of Tamworth when Mark Cooper took charge of the club in April 2004. On 24 January 2007, Dryden's contract with Tamworth was terminated by mutual consent, at the same time as Cooper's contract.

In March 2007, Dryden signed for Shepshed Dynamo. In November 2007, he became manager of Conference North club Worcester City but left this post after being sacked on 17 January 2010. He was subsequently appointed assistant manager at Darlington, but was dismissed together with Mark Cooper on 14 October 2011.

Dryden was appointed as York City's head of youth team coaching in July 2012, working alongside youth team coach Steve Torpey. He left in December 2014 after a reorganisation of the club's youth coaching structure.

In October 2015, he was officially confirmed as the new under 21s manager at Notts County. Following the departure of Ricardo Moniz as manager in December 2015, he was appointed caretaker manager of the first team. Following Mark Cooper's appointment as Notts County manager in March 2016, he became a part of Cooper's backroom team in the first team set-up once again.

In June 2016, he joined Indian club East Bengal as assistant coach. In May 2021, Dryden followed Mark Cooper again to be his assistant at Barrow. On 20 March 2022, Dryden left the club following the mutual termination of Cooper's contract.

Ahead of the 2025–26 season, after spending two seasons as assistant manager at Aldershot Town, Dryden was reunited with Mark Cooper once again after being appointed as first-team coach at Yeovil Town. On 26 August 2025, Dryden was appointed caretaker manager following the departure of Mark Cooper. On 22 September 2025, after the resignation of Danny Webb, Dryden was re-appointed as first-team manager until the end of the 2025–26 season. On 25 November 2025, Dryden was replaced as manager by Billy Rowley.

Career statistics

Managerial statistics

Honours Stoke City Football League Trophy: 1999–2000