The shock resignation of manager Dave Cameron on Monday means Avenue go into Saturday’s home clash against struggling Leigh Genesis without a leader in the dugout.

First-team coach Mike Marsh has been named as caretaker boss but he is unavailable due to prior commitments.

The former Liverpool and Galatasaray midfielder will be out of the country and said: “It has caught everyone out, Dave leaving just out of the blue.

“I will miss the game because I’ll be in Spain and the board knew about that before I came in as coach.

“When Dave was here it wasn’t a problem because there were two of us. If for any reason either of us was not available the other would run the team.

“I’m going to be away for ten days, so it’s not just this game but the game at Nantwich Town next Saturday. Fortunately there is no midweek game, so it’s just the two Saturdays.

“I have already spoken to the chief exec (club owner Bob Blackburn) about it. We will be having another chat before I set off and we will see where we go from there.

“I don’t know if I will be expected to select a side and leave it with someone. It has all just come at the worst time really.

“Basically I came here to do some coaching and assist Dave on match days. I wasn’t looking to be a manager but with Dave leaving the question is being asked.”

Marsh has been on the payroll just over a fortnight and during that time has had very little time to work with the squad.

He witnessed an inept display last Saturday, when Avenue slumped to a home UniBond League defeat against Witton Albion.

The Cheshire outfit were bottom of the Premier Division at the time and had suffered 11 straight league defeats.

Things got no better for Avenue in midweek when they lost to local rivals Guiseley in a League Cup tie. They were beaten 2-0 at Nethermoor and finished the game with nine men after another disastrous evening.

The match kicked off half an hour late after the squad were caught up in traffic following an accident on the motorway, skipper Mark Haran was sent off after an hour and midfielder Steve Bushall was carried off with an injury after the three substitutes had been used.

** Tomorrow’s league match was scheduled to be away but Leigh are in difficulties and have been playing their home games at Chorley.

That option is not available to them this weekend so they approached Avenue and the UniBond League with a request to switch venues, which was accepted because the reverse fixture has not yet been played.