Ebden unveiled at Drayton

Lee Ebden was unveiled as the new manager of Evo-Stik Northern Premier League Market Drayton Town on Saturday.

Ebden, 29,takes over at the First Division South outfit eight days after the surprise departure of Dave Richards. Former Shawbury United manager Richards resigned last Friday citing work commitments before taking charge of a game and within weeks of his own appointment in June.

Ebden, who played for Rhyl FC, Durham City, Lancaster City and Kidderminster Harriers, is looking forward to taking his first steps into management and will be assisted at the Greenfields Sports Ground by former Chelsea defender and Wigan Athletic manager Chris Hutchings.

Ebden, who hung up his boots in 2008 at Kidderminster after a series of niggling injuries and has since worked with more than 130 clubs across Europe as a football consultant, said: "I'm happy for this opportunity given to me by the club and the board. It is a great club to take my first steps into management with and I’m looking forward to taking it as far as I can. I want to put everything into it along with Chris and see where we can take the club."

Hutchings, 56, also played for Brighton, Walsall, Rotherham and Huddersfield Town. His management career has seen him work as assistant manager at Bradford City, Ipswich, Wigan and Derby County where he also spent a spell as caretaker.

He was assistant manager at Wigan under Paul Jewell and after taking charge of the Premier Division club himself in 2000-01, took them to the semi-finals of the Intertoto Cup in Europe. Hutchings also managed Walsall and Bradford City in the Premier League after taking over from Jewell. He left Ipswich last October after stepping in as caretaker manager.

The pair will hope to improve on the club's 15th place finish to the last campaign and take charge of Market Drayton Town for the first time at home on Monday against Welsh side TNS in the Shropshire Cup. KO 7.45pm.