MIDDLEWICH Town’s new manager, Mike Fagan-Hall, has vowed to promote the club’s most promising young players to the first team.

He guided the Witches’ second string to fourth place in the Cheshire League’s Reserves Division last term, a stark contrast to a fourth-bottom finish the season before he took charge.

The strongest performers from that group now have a chance to test themselves against the best of the rest in the county in Division One.

“They’re lads who want the opportunity to impress,” said Fagan-Hall, who replaces Adam Morris in the dugout at Seddon Street.

“Half a dozen of them did so during the course of last year in any case, which is important at a club like this one.

“Middlewich has a reputation of producing talented junior players, and it’s important they feel no door will be closed on them stepping up to the senior sides.

“That’s what we’ll aim to encourage.”

Fagan-Hall will be assisted by Paul Higham and John Earps, who helped him to run Town’s reserve team.

He said the decision to accept chairman Steve Morris’ offer to replace his son, who will stay at the club as a player, was a straightforward one.

“We enjoy it so wanted to stay,” he added.

“One or two other clubs liked what we achieved last season and had approached us, but we know the way things work here. It was a simple choice.”

His task now is to strengthen a group shorn of top scorer Craig Millington and Sam O’Sullivan, who have joined Cheshire League rivals Rudheath.

The new-look squad delivered a victory in Town’s first friendly, a 5-4 win at Barnton Wanderers.

Fagan-Hall said: “We haven’t set a target because we’ve no idea how we’ll measure up. What I can promise is a team that will work hard and be extremely fit.”

The first team trains every Tuesday and Thursday at Middlewich High School.

Fagan-Hall says new players can attend for a trial.