Board back double act to claim hot-seat

EVO-STIK Northern Premier League Scarborough Athletic will give Bryan Hughes and Paul Foot every chance to claim the job on a long term basis.

The Seadogs announced on Wednesday that following a meeting of their board, the pair's interim term in charge would be extended until the New Year after the First Division North club's assistant mangers succeeded former manager Rudi Funk last week.

In a statement, officials said: "Whilst acknowledging that the club needs to have a permanent managerial solution in place as soon as possible, the board want Paul and Bryan to be able to focus 100 per cent on the challenges ahead secure in the knowledge that the club is behind their efforts to claim the job long-term. We hope that joint owners and fans will support our management team and squad throughout this period."

Funk won three promotions during a five and a half year reign at Rainworth Miners Welfare before taking the helm at the Seadogs in April 2011 and quickly becoming a firm favourite with fans while taking them up into the EVO-STIK NPL.

Hughes and Foot, pictured, saw their hopes of getting off to a winning start hit by a late Bohan Dixon winner for Northwich Victoria in Saturday's 2-1 home defeat. On Monday the pair made their first signings, capturing Alex Peterson on loan from Doncaster Rovers until January and former Frickley Athletic defender Steve Gardner.

Follow us: @evostikleague on Twitter | The NPL group on Facebook by clicking here: www.facebook.com/groups/TheNPL/