INTERIM Thackley boss Tom Greaves admits he wouldn’t rule out wanting to take the job full-time, despite attempting to finish the season as the Northern Counties East League Premier Division’s top scorer too.

Former Bradford (Park Avenue) striker Greaves has been a player-manager before, at FC United of Manchester, but this time, he is enjoying having fellow players Kris Hargreaves and Aidan Chippendale alongside him, as well as Harley Hirst, who became first-team coach at Dennyfield in the summer.

Greaves told the T&A: “Chippy, Kris and I have discussed doing it full-time, and right now, all the players want to be here.

“There is that worry that if someone new comes in, a few feathers could get ruffled, and then it could change how some players feel about staying.

“I wouldn’t rule out taking the job on permanently, but we’ll see how the next few weeks of games and training go first.

“Our task as interims is to get the team up the table, so if that’s happening and we’re enjoying ourselves, it’s likely we’ll put our names in the hat and apply to become the permanent management team.”

Greaves’ first game in charge after Pat McGuire’s sacking last week was due to be in the league against Hallam on Saturday, but that was frozen off.

Instead, he made his bow in a 2-1 friendly win at Steeton on Tuesday night.

Asked about the experience, Greaves said: “I don’t think being player-manager will be as hard as it was at FC United, because of how great Harley, Kris and Chippy are.

“But with the Steeton game only being a friendly, it meant I could play the first 45 minutes, then watch the rest of the game from the sidelines for a different perspective.

“I’m not saying it’s going to be easy, as I won’t be able to do that in competitive games, but it was a good experience and gave me a better idea of how the lads play.”

Greaves’ first competitive game will be huge, with Thackley, just four points above the drop zone, visiting Eccleshill United for a Bradford derby next Tuesday.

But he insisted: “There would have been pressure regardless, because we’re down there near the bottom and we need points.

“It is being thrown in at the deep end a bit, with the game being a local derby, but it felt like the lads were playing with less pressure on them against Steeton.

“I hope we can take that more relaxed attitude into the Eccleshill game, because Pat’s put together a great squad here and we’re underachieving.”

On paper, it doesn’t seem like any blame can be attached to Greaves, whose 13 league goals for Thackley have made him the joint second-top scorer in the division.

But he said: “I’m my own biggest critic and I’ve missed some big chances. I should have scored five or six more than my 18 in all competitions.

“I base my games around goals, and I’d maybe stop playing if I wasn’t finding the net.

“But I had a target of 25 this season and I should get there.

“If I can hit that, why not carry on for at least another year?”