JAMES GILL has taken interim charge of Silsden following the resignation of first-team manager Ryan Haigh.

Former Cobbydalers player Gill returns to the club from neighbours Barnoldswick Town, where he had been assisting Stewart Airdrie.

Haigh had been at the helm since March last year when he took over from Andy Geary, having previously been his number two.

He cited family reasons for his resignation, having initially started the season as joint-manager with Danny Bolton, who also stepped down back in October.

Gill, who had been at Barlick for three seasons, was one of the players who brought the Cobbydalers up from the lower leagues to their present position and the committee hope he can have the same impact as a manager. He has received numerous best wishes from former Cobbydalers team mates and fans.

It has been a frustrating season for Silsden, with injuries hitting the first-team squad early on before bad weather disrupted the fixture list from the end of November.

The team have made good progress in cups this year and are due to visit Harrogate Town tomorrow night in the semi-final of the West Riding FA County Cup. However, league form has been hit and miss.

At present, Silsden lie third bottom of the North West Counties League Premier Division but still have more than half their fixtures to play, having played the least number of games in the division along with Colne.

Saturday's game at home to Alasager Town was the latest one to bite the dust and the backlog will mean two games per week until the end of the season.

On his spell at Barlick, Gill said: "It's a great club and one that has a very bright future.

"I'll be sad to leave a lot of friends behind but hopefully you will all see my reasons. I'd like to wish everyone involved with the club all the best for the future. Onto a new challenge for myself now."

A Silsden statement on their website read: "The club would like to put on record their thanks to Ryan, who took over following Andy Geary's retirement last season having initially been the manager of the Academy side."

It continued: "The committee hope that all the fans will get behind the new manager and his team and give them the support they deserve."