PAUL Ogden is prepared to continue as Witton Albion’s caretaker manager for the foreseeable future.

He picked the team for last night’s FA Trophy replay at Ossett Albion, from which his side emerged 2-0 winners to set a first qualifying round date with Radcliffe.

And the 68-year-old will be in the dugout again this weekend.

“It’s enjoyable when you win,” he quipped when asked how he felt to be back on the touchline more than five years after he first took charge at Wincham Park.

“I’ve the utmost respect for this club and its chairman.

“Let me say this; Mark Harris is one of the best I’ve worked for in my career – and the main reason I’m doing this is for him.

“He needs an experienced guy to keep a calm head while he decides who to appoint next. I can be that for him.

“I want to make a difference, and I’ll do it for as long as I get a response from the players. So far, I have.”

Ogden is being assisted by former Witton striker Carl Frost and chief scout Terry Murphy.

David McDonough, a former director of technical performance at West Bromwich Albion, is on board too.

Based in Cheshire, he performed a similar role previously at Liverpool, Internazionale and Valencia.

“He’s an inspirational guy, and his knowledge of the game is first class,” said Ogden.

“We’d be daft not to accept his offer of help.”

The former Northwich Victoria and Leek manager said Witton’s players, while having to accept their share of responsibility for Scott Dundas’ dismissal last week, had reacted positively.

Albion confirmed on Tuesday that Niall Green, Kyle Diskin and Ben Mills have been released.

However Darren Chadwick recovered from a calf injury to start last night’s replay, while Chris Baker has scored in both games since the ex-Norton boss left.

Ogden said: “I think that’s the best display I’ve seen this season.

“It’s easy to have a go at players, but they deserve credit for how they performed [at Ossett].

“We came out all guns blazing on Saturday and went 2-0 up, but we saw a lot that wasn’t correct and have since put that right.

“There was more organisation, more discipline, in what we did.”

“Believe me there’s talent in this group, and it would have been easy for them to collapse after Scott left. But they’ve not done that.

“It’s no secret we must improve, and there is a lot of hard work to do.

“The playing staff needs to be better, and we’ll make sure it is.

“But our first priority is to generate confidence in the lads we have here already.

“They need to feel comfortable with the standards this club sets.

“A person knows when something isn’t working; some close the door on themselves, while others need it opening for them.

“Certain things haven’t been right here, and there are players who let the previous manager down.

“The truth is they should have been moved on.”

Albion return to Yorkshire on Saturday for a league meeting with Ossett Town, kick off 3pm.