Paul Phillips and Steve Halford, whose appointment was announced this morning, are focused on building a team, winning promotion, and making sure the Hillmen live up to their potential.
From now on, Glossop will be at the centre of everything they do, which means there will be no time — or indeed desire — to revisit old feuds.
Both men were very bitter when they were sacked by Stalybridge Celtic in February. But three months and a new job have done a lot to heal the wounds.
“It would certainly be interesting if we came up against Celtic in a cup match, and if we beat them it might be a better feeling, but anything between me and Steve Burr is all in the past now,” said Phillips.
“If we played Stalybridge it would be like playing anyone else. Steve and I aren’t looking at other clubs. We’re just concentrating on Glossop North End.
“It’s great to be back in management and especially at such a big club, and one with decent prospects. We’ve got something here that we can really build on.”
Although Phillips and Halford’s reign at Bower Fold was brief and difficult, they have an impressive record in the Evo-stik NPL. In their three years in charge at Ashton United, they reached the play-offs every time. They made the final in 2013-14 when they lost on penalties to Fylde, and lost on penalties to Curzon 12 months later.
At Surrey Street, they are determined to go one better. Phillips explained: “People know how Steve and I work. We set out for the title and if that gets out of reach we go for the play-offs.
“No disrespect to the previous regime who did so well at Glossop, and brought them up out of the North West Counties League, but this is a club that’s been punching below its weight.
“Look at the crowds and the infrastructure, and all the people who work so hard, and you can see this is a place that should be in the premier division. Glossop North End have put their faith in Steve and me and we intend to justify that faith out on the pitch.
“Hopefully, we won’t have to rip the team apart. We’re two or three weeks behind everyone else, but I know quite a few of the squad and I hope we can keep the ones we want and sprinkle in a few new ones who we’ll need to get us where we want to be.
“We’ve already started to speak to the players and explained how we need to keep going forwards, but we’ve also started recruiting. The hard work has begun already.
“Steve will be registering as a player, and although I wish I could say I didn’t have to, I will too. I believe I can still do a job in goal. I finished last season at Marine and managed to win manager’s player of the year.
“But that’s not to say we won’t be looking for a new keeper. It’s all a question of finance. If somebody comes along who’s affordable and can do a better job than me then he’ll go between the sticks.”
Having been interviewed earlier this week, Phillips and Halford will be going to Surrey Street tomorrow (Saturday) to meet the full board of directors and to speak to other members of the club.
Phillips concluded: “I want to reiterate that we’re going for promotion — preferably via the title but through the play-offs if necessary. Just so long as we don’t get involved in any penalty shoot-outs.”