NEW Albion Sports boss Neil Sibson is relishing the opportunity to take over in the manager’s hot-seat next season.

Mohammed Rizwan stepped down as first team manager at the end of last season despite leading the West Yorkshire outfit to their best ever league finish, 5th in the NCEL Premier Division.

“The saying goes ‘all good things must come to an end’ and with that being said, my time as manager has come to an end,” Rizwan confirmed.

“I have decided to step down as manager as I will be travelling for work over the next 12 months.”

With Rizwan vacating the role as first team manager, it’s allowed his assistants from last season, Sibson and Craig Ogilvie, to take over and lead this Albion side forward next season.

Speaking to the T&A, Sibson spoke of his delight to be in charge of this current crop of Albion players.

He said: “It was an easy decision for me to take over as first team manager because I really enjoyed my time here last year under the guidance of Riz.

“Obviously, there will be more pressure on me as manager, but I have no doubt that I’m going to thoroughly enjoy working with this club and group of players over the season.

“This group are one of the best that I’ve worked with, I have no doubt about it. They're special.

"Their enthusiasm and willingness to learn stands out massively and there is a real togetherness within the group.

“Everyone wants to work for one another and fight for each other, so it makes my job that little bit easier.”

He added: “Not just the players, but the club is run by great people who have a lot of ambition and who always put the club’s best interests at heart.

“Myself, Craig and the rest of the backroom staff will certainly be giving everything we have to keep this club competing at the right end of the table.”

Albion are set to take part in the Diversity Football Festival at Wolverhampton Wanderers’ training ground on Saturday 20 July.

The tournament is put on to celebrate diversity and the success of non-league clubs that are leading the way for Black and South Asian communities in terms of playing, managing, coaching, volunteering and operationally running clubs.

Albion will take on Sporting Bengal United, Sporting Khalsa FC and OJM Black Country Football Club in a bid to be crowned festival winners.

Looking ahead to the tournament, Sibson said: “I’m really excited for it.

“It will be a fantastic opportunity for the players and staff to test ourselves against some strong opposition ahead of the new season, with a couple of the teams we are playing being in Step Four.

“Of course, it will be a brilliant occasion for us to go and play at a Premier League training ground too, so we’re all looking forward to it.

“A number of our players have experience playing at some high-level training grounds because they’ve been in clubs’ academies over the years, but I’m expecting Wolves to be a different level.

“Furthermore, it will be another great bonding experience for our group which is already a very tight-knit one anyway, so that’s a big positive.”

Albion have been busy in the transfer market having recently signed T'nique Fishley and Paul Walker.

The club are also set to confirm the arrival of a new left-back in the coming days.