CHORLEY FC's new manager will be chosen today following yesterday's board meeting - the second this week.

A further meeting was arranged for this afternoon to choose the man they hope will steer them clear of relegation.

The search has been narrowed down to four - either current player and assistant manager Jim McCluskie, ex-Winsford manager Dalton Steele, or two others who remain unnamed because they are presently tied to a team.

But Jack Kirkland, Chorley FC's chairman, is happy with all four candidates' credentials.

He said: "We were approached from people from league sides. But we are looking for somebody the right age, under 50 but just over 40, who has had a lot of experience in non-league football.

"The man who we give the job to must be a man who will fight like hell to keep us in this league.

"But we can't do it without the people of Chorley coming to the grounds and getting behind the team and the new manager."

Dalton Steele, 41, has a string of honours under his belt including a North West Counties League championship in 94-95 with Flixton, the same year he led his team to victory in the Lamont Pils Trophy. In 95-96 he was an FA Vase semi-finalist, but left at the end of the season to manage Winsford.

In his first season there Dalton won the Cheshires Cup and ended seventh in the Unibond Premiership.

But he left Winsford, currently sixth in the league, last week and approached Chorley for the vacant post.

Jim McCluskie, bought from Accrington at the beginning of the season by Bryan Griffiths, is currently Chorley's assistant manager, but also played with Nationwide Conference outfit Morecambe.

But since Brian Griffiths left Chorley three weeks ago, the team has looked short of inspiration and ideas and with a tough visit from promotion contenders Gateshead on Saturday the new manager will certainly have his hands full.

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