Chasetown step up new boss search

Chasetown will hold interviews for a new manager stressing to candidates that Charlie Blakemore's influence at the club is a non-footballing role.

Former boss Blakemore and chairman John Donnelly have been charged with sifting through the 29 applicants and assessing their suitability.

They will then comprise a shortlist and meet with chief executive Mick Joiner before inviting people in to see them, which they hope will be on Sunday.

But Blakemore, who stepped down after eight years in charge because of work commitments last October, will not interfere on the footballing side.

Blakemore's involvement is strictly as a member of the board of directors and the new manager report to them as a whole, rather to him directly.

His old backroom staff of assistant manager Andy Cox, reserve team boss Andy Penny and youth coach Andy Turner have all applied for the job.

The trio took charge for the game that saw the Scholars relegated from the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League, a 4-4 draw at Burscough.

Chris Brindley was sacked as boss three days earlier and all three of his lieutenants want to succeed him as a manager in their own right.

Cox is the most senior but Penny has just won the double with the second string, while Turner has name value as a former Premier League footballer.

The 37-year-old spent four years at Tottenham and became the Premier League's youngest-ever goalscorer, aged 17, during a game against Everton in 1992.

Whatever the outcome, the club hope to have a new manager in place next week as they prepare to return to the fourth-tier of non-league football.

They worry the squad may disband if they wait, as their eight contracted players' deals will soon be up and the rest are free to talk to other clubs.

The top job at the Scholars Ground is a part-time role and has attracted a mix of ex-professionals, assistant and academy managers.