MAGPIES' assistant manager Mickey Graham will be in charge of the Chorley team for the first two weeks of the new season, which starts on August 21 because John Hughes will be in the United States on business.

Hughes said: "I may miss three or four games, but it can't be helped, because the trip was arranged before I took the Chorley job.

"Mickey has plenty of experience so I have no problem leaving him in temporary charge."

The two men first worked together when Graham was manager of Rossendale United and Hughes was his assistant.

Before than the two had played togther at Chorley. Both were brought to Victory Park by then manager Tommy Haworth although Graham spent only one season at Chorley as a player.

Hughes himself joined Chorley in 1983 from Altrincham staying with the Magpies until 1989. He played a major part in the historic FA Cup run to the FA Cup Second Round Proper and helped Chorley win the NPL championship and promotion to the Conference.

Hughes started his career as a teenager in the Football League Third Division with Bury in the early 1980s but only made two appearances for the Shakers in 1981-82, one as substitute, before he suffered a broken ankle and dropped into non-league football.

Chorley take on Preston North End at Victory Park on Saturday, July 17. This game will be the second contest between the sides for the Jack Kirkland Memorial Trophy, in honour of the club's late chairman, who was also a lifelong Preston fan.

The following Saturday, July 24, Hughes' old club Altrincham, now in the Conference North, will be the visitors. Ex-Magpies Marcus Hallows and Steve Aspinall could be in the Robins' team.

Former Chorley player Kevin Glendon will bring his Radcliffe Borough side to Victory Park on Tuesday, August 10, the first meeting of the sides since the First Division play-off final at Stainton Park at the end of season 2002/03, which Borough won in a penalty shootout.

The Magpies travel to meet Marine on Saturday, August 14.

THE promotion of Chester City to the Football League means that the club's reserve side have switched from the Lancashire League.

Ossett Town have also left, replaced by Altrincham, bringing membership to 16, one more than last season, and including of course Chorley Reserves.

The season will start on August 14, the week before the UniBond League.