NEW manager Mike Clegg can’t wait to get started at ASHTON UNITED. He describes it as an exciting project that he’s eager to be part of.
“Everybody knows what’s going on there at the moment. Believe me it had to be something special to get me to leave Atherton Collieries, my hometown club, where I spent so many great times,” he said.
“I’m looking to make progress at Hurst Cross. I want to get in there, get the lads playing, and get some results. That’s the key.”
At the same time, he will be drawing a line under past events. What’s happened in the past doesn’t matter. He’s only interested in the future and everyone in the underperforming Robins squad will get a chance to impress — if they want to take it.
Clegg, who has moved to Hurst Cross after a five-year spell at Atherton Collieries in which he won several trophies including the North West Counties League championship, as well as reaching the quarter-finals of the FA Vase, was appointed yesterday (Thursday).
Farsley boss Adam Lakeland was thought to be favourite and it’s believed former Curzon manager John Flanagan was interviewed. There was even talk of a return by Paul Phillips who recently lost the Buxton job.
Clegg will be at tomorrow (Saturday’s) BetVictor NPL premier division home match against Radcliffe, but in the background ready to take over on Monday. Josh Wilson will have charge of the team assisted by Damian Crossley and Kieran Bentley. Winger Andy Howarth has a three-game ban pending after receiving a straight red in the 4-0 defeat by Nantwich.
“I’ll speak to the lads next week and organise a couple of good training sessions to prepare for the game with Basford. It’ll be clean slates all round because I’m not interested in what happened before,” he explained.
“Jody Banim’s a good football man as a manager and as a player. He did a lot at Ashton but what went on when he was in charge is of no interest to me. He put together a very good squad and it’s up to me to get them playing.
“Clearly promotion is nigh on impossible now, but that also means the pressure’s off. My job is to impose my own ideas to find a winning formula and get a feelgood factor around the place. It’s all about climbing the table.”
Although Clegg has inherited a large number of contract players — believed to be as many as 14 — he says he has been given scope to make signings, adding “who’s to say I won’t be met by some lads saying they don’t want to be part of my plan?”
Connor Hughes is the only player Clegg knows personally. They were together at Atherton and Clegg believes the midfielder will be keen to stay because he knows him and enjoys his methods.
The new boss knows all the others by reputation. He has seen them in action and describes them as household names in non-league.
HYDE UNITED have signed Buxton defender Brad Roscoe ahead of their home clash with Witton Albion at Ewen Fields when they will be looking for a third consecutive league win. There are no injuries but James Nield is unavailable because of a prior engagement.
It’s understood teenage striker Paddy Lane, a product of the Tigers’ academy, is training with a Championship club and attracting lots of attention from Football League scouts.
Alex Starcenko’s loan from Guiseley has been extended for two more months. Oran Thompson, Jacko Hardacre and Cyril Owolabi have been released.
The atmosphere has certainly changed at Bower Fold. Fans are delighted that the club’s fortunes seem to be on the up for the first time in years and the confidence is palpably surging through the squad.
You have to go back to 2011 for the last time STALYBRIDGE CELTIC won five games in a row. It’s a statistic they hope to match tomorrow when they travel to Gainsborough Trinity where a victory mean four away wins on the trot, something they haven’t managed since 2009 when Paul Phillips was in goal.
Manager Simon Haworth, who is delighted with his team’s progress into the play-off places, is able to choose from a fully-fit squad.
There is an 11am pitch inspection at Seel Park where MOSSLEY are down to play Trafford in the first division north west.
Manager Dave Wild, who has no injury worries, has yet to name a new assistant to replace John Flanagan who quit at the weekend after what is believed to have been a disagreement.
CURZON ASHTON, DROYLSDEN and GLOSSOP NORTH END are all without a fixture. The resurgent Nash are home to Kettering on Monday and Robbie Evans is available for selection. They may also have a new loan signing.