The search for new manager should gather momentum next week, says Vics owner Jim Rushe (From Northwich Guardian)

The search for new manager should gather momentum next week, says Vics owner Jim Rushe

5:14pm Friday 27th January 2012 in News By Andrew Simpson

JIM Rushe says he will worry about who will be Vics’ next manager only when the team has somewhere to play for the season’s remainder.

The club’s owner negotiated a reprieve with prospective new stadium owners Thor Specialities (UK) Ltd for this weekend’s league encounter with Marine, but that accord is for one game only.

No agreement has yet been reached for Northwich’s other scheduled home encounters.

Until it is chief scout Wayne Porter, along with senior players Steve Abbott and Tony Evans, will continue to pick the team.

“There’s been plenty of interest in the vacancy,” Rushe told supporters at a forum on Wednesday.

“I’m hoping to start going through those applications at the start of next week, providing by then we have an agreement in place to finish the season at the Victoria Stadium.”

Former Crewe and Northwich player Steve Walters is known to have applied.

The 40-year-old led Welsh minnows Rhos Aelwyd to unprecedented success during a four-years spell as manager, including winning the Football Association of Wales (FAW) Trophy and Welsh National League as well as establishing them in the Huws Gray Alliance – Welsh football’s second tier – after a 13-years absence.

The Non-League Paper reported this week that former Vics’ fans favourite Lee Steele, now at league rivals Nantwich Town, is another contender to replace now-departed Andy Preece who ended his tenure as manager last week.