Macaulay returns to touchline

Macaulay, pictured, was unveiled as the successor to Scott Dundas at the First Division North club at lunchtime on Monday following the latter's departure at the end of September.

The 45-year-old former Albion, Burscough and Southport player works as a Liverpool FC Foundation coach and beat a shortlist of three other candidates to the post at Wincham Park.

Macaulay kicked off his managerial career at Vauxhall Motors, guiding them to Step 2 of the Non-League pyramid during a five year spell before moving on to Chester as assistant manager and then taking the helm at Marine in May 2014.

His spell at the Crosby club was curtailed in February and Witton Albion's board are hoping Macaulay and his long-time assistant Gary Martindale, the ex-Tranmere Rovers player, will now take the opportunity to reestablish themselves in the EVO-STIK NPL.

Officials said Macaulay and Martindale will announce the full make-up of their backroom team in the coming days. In the meantime, the pair will work their caretaker management team of Dave McDonough, Terry Murphy and Carl Frost in reviewing the Albion playing staff.

McDonough and Frost will take the first team at Mossley in the league on Tuesday night with Macaulay and his number two watching from the stands before they formally take over at training on Thursday ahead of their first game at the helm, Lancaster City at home on Saturday.

A statement released by the club's board read: “Witton Albion is pleased to announce the appointment of Carl Macaulay and Gary Martindale.

"The short term strategy is to stabilise and improve the dressing room, and over time to build a robust player pathway using the foundation being laid with the development squad.

"Carl’s credentials as a coach, for strong discipline and passing football is well established. We wish he and Gary every success.”

Image courtesy of www.chesterchronicle.co.uk

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