STEVE Wilkes says stability is the immediate aim at Northwich Victoria after taking over as the club’s manager.

Following Paul Moore’s resignation last week, Wilkes was named as Vics’ new boss on Monday and takes charge for the first time in Saturday’s game at Maine Road, kick off 3pm.

Wilkes, who brings assistant Steve Pickup and first-team coach Andy Payton with him to Townfield, admits winning the North West Counties Premier Division is “highly unlikely” but that silverware is not yet out of the question.

“I would say the aim this season is to stabilise the football club,” said the 50-year-old former Wigan Athletic and Preston North End professional.

“We’ll be striving to win as many games as possible.

“We’re still in three cup competitions, so hopefully we can progress in those.”

Vics currently sit 16th in the table but their new manager has previous success in this division, winning the title with Padiham in 2013, and he emphasises the importance of team spirit.

“That season I only used 27 players, which is remarkable when you think about how many players move from club to club at this level,” he said.

“We only had a small budget, but we had the best dressing room in the league, which I think is so important at this level.”

All three men bring a wealth of experience to Vics.

Pickup’s past clubs include Burnley, Bolton, Everton and Wigan, while Payton scored more than 200 goals in over 530 games for Burnley, Celtic and Hull among others.

Wilkes resigned as Padiham boss at the end of August.

In two spells there, the former midfielder managed around 500 games over the course of a decade with the club.

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PROFILE - Steve Wilkes

Age: 50

Playing career:

- Wigan Athletic, 1983-85 as an apprentice and 1985-86 professional.

- Preston North End, 1986-1988, professional

- Southport, 1988-89

- Morecambe, 1989 until October 1 (broke his right femur in a car crash)

- Bamber Bridge 1991-1994

- Darwen 1994-1997

Managerial Career:

- Darwen, 1997-2004

- Padiham, 2004-Jan, 2008

- Runcorn Linnets, Jan 2008-Sep 2010

- Ashton Athletic, 2011-2012

- Padiham, 2012-Aug 2017

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Wilkes, who revealed Saturday's game at Maine Road will be his 912th as a manager, offered insight into his supporting team, Pickup and Payton.

"Steve Pickup has played and been my assistant for nearly 20 years, on and off, and brings a wealth of experience at this level," he said.

"Steve’s been my assistant for the past three-and-a-half years.

"He’s very good at what he does, many a time we disagree but that’s what I like about Steve - he’s not just a yes man.

"Andy Payton's CV is unreal to read.

"Andy’s played over 530 football league games and scored over 200 goals for Burnley, Celtic, Hull, Middlesbrough and Barnsley to name a few.

"He’s just got his UEFA B coaching licence and has just finished his UEFA A badge."