New Liversedge manager Steve Newton is enthusiastic about slipping into the hot seat at Clayborn and will be delighted when he gets his squad in for pre-season training in a couple of weeks.

"It is an exciting challenge and a nice one for me at this stage in my career in football," said Newton who left the reserve team boss's role at UniBond outfit Bradford Park Avenue to accept the position.

"I have been there or thereabouts with Bradford and earlier at Ossett Town but I want to be number one in my own right.

"I didn't expect the job at Sedge to come up so soon but it is only ten minutes from home and a club I have watched a lot of football at.

"I have come along to midweek matches here whenever it has been possible.

"It is a very good set-up. I can see the potential here. It was a wrench to leave Avenue - there are a lot of people I'm disappointed to have left behind."

Following the surprise departure of previous boss Gerry Quinn, Newton revealed that he was offered the post while he was on holiday and he accepted straight away.

He said: "When the previous manager decided to move on the first I heard was when I got a call on the beach in Turkey.

"I was asked if I was interested in the job and told them I would love it. I was offered it and said yes there and then.

"I had a few beers in Turkey that night on the strength of it.

"Obviously with me being out of the country it delayed the appointment. There were things to discuss when I got home but two days after flying back into England I was the new Sedge manager.

Newton was keen to stress that his parting with his former club had been amicable.

He said: "I have had some smashing texts and phone calls from the lads and fans at Avenue wishing me well.

"That's great and it shows what a club it is. I'm regularly in contact with Mick Couzens, the youth coach and secretary.

"The new first team manager at Bradford, Benny Phillips, is a really nice man who knows his football. "There have been no fall-outs, no disputes. It was just that this opportunity was one that I couldn't turn down."