Last updated at 13:03, Friday, 04 June 2010

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SCOTT Ellis is taking over as the new player/manager at Hawcoat Park.

The central midfielder will be assisted by former first team boss Brian Graham during the 2010/11 season.

Hawcoat finished fifth in West Lancs Division One last term under the stewardship of Grant Cumberbatch, who has now stepped down from the role.

“I’m going to be a dad for the first time later this month, so I’m taking a bit of a back seat on the football,” said Cumberbatch, who had two full seasons in charge at Hawcoat.

“I’m also hoping to start playing again if my shoulder injury allows. I’m 33 now and want to play while I still can!

“I’ll still be around the club if my input is needed, but Scott will take charge from the start of pre-season, assisted by Brian Graham.

“It should be a seamless transition.”

Cumberbatch added that Ade Lightfoot and Steve Young will take over the Hawcoat reserves and third teams respectively in 2010/11.

There will also be a change in management at Dalton United during the summer after long-standing first team bosses Jon Balm and Tony Callister announced they were standing down.

Balm, who spent five years in the Railway Meadow dugout, said: “I always said I’d do three years, but I ended up doing five! I felt the time was right to make a clean break. It allows someone else to come in with a fresh outlook.

“I had a great time at Dalton, but I’m now enjoying a break. No doubt I’ll take up a new challenge at some point though.

“My highlight at Dalton was winning the Richardson Cup and finishing third and fourth in the West Lancs Premier Division. That’s a superb achievement for a club like Dalton, competing against clubs from Manchester, Preston and the likes, who pay quite good money to players.”

Dalton United chairman Alan Callison said the club would be looking to “restructure” and had people in mind to take over the managerial reins.

The West Lancs League held its end of season presentation evening last weekend.

Furness Cavaliers linesman Mike Sear was named Division Two assistant referee of the year. Cavaliers won the Wilson Carradus Hospitality Award. Ruth Haughian collected the gong.

Paul Wright, Cavaliers secretary, said: “We’ve won the divisional award for the last two seasons, but to win the outright league award is a great honour and a fantastic achievement, given the limited resources.”

Hawcoat Park won the Division One hospitality award. The West Lancs AGM will be held on June 11 at Lancashire FA headquarters in Leyland.

First published at 13:03, Thursday, 03 June 2010
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk