Mills vows to seize his chance

Mills, who left his post as number two to Gary Setchell at EVO-STIK League Southern King's Lynn Town to succeed former Leicester City striker Tommy Wright as the Steelmen's 44th manager, takes charge for the first time on Saturday when they host Nantwich Town in the EVO-STIK NPL's Premier Division.

After seeing his new club beat the Blues 2-0 to record a vital home win on Wednesday night, the former Rushden & Diamonds and Kettering Town midfielder and FA Trophy winner with Stevenage has told the club's fans he is determined to seize his chance with the help of former Republic of Ireland U21 and B international David Bell following his appointment as his assistant manager.

Pictured alongside Bell, right, when they were introduced to fans at Steel Park, Mills told northantstelegraph.co.uk: “I am delighted, it’s a huge club, huge potential and it’s up to me and David to get it going in the right direction. It’s massive, it’s a great opportunity for me. I have done my time at King’s Lynn and at Wrexham with Kev Wilkin and learned a lot.

"I am ready to take the bull by the horns and give it a right good go. It’s up to me to drag this football club up the table and get as many wins as we can. That will come by working hard, sticking together, showing desire and showing the fans what they want to see. We’ll have a formal meeting with the lads and set out one or two things that I am looking to implement for Saturday.

“There are some good players and I want good characters around the dressing-room. Every player has a chance, it’s up to them to decide what their futures are. I haven’t got any favourites or anything like that. They have got a clean slate, they have to work hard and for those that want to be here, they will be here.”

The 35-year-old had been featuring on the pitch for the Linnets this season but is now hoping to concentrate solely on managing after a 17 year playing career that also saw him turn out for Crawley Town, Tamworth, Mansfield Town, Forest Green Rovers, Bath City, Lincoln City, Nuneaton and Boston United.

He added: “I have been playing for King’s Lynn, I’ve played in the last five or six. But hopefully not, hopefully the lads will be doing well enough that I don’t have to play. My initial thoughts are to just concentrate on being the manager.”

Bell, 32, made 122 appearances for the now defunct Rushden & Diamonds before transferring to Luton Town in 2006 and making 75 appearances for the Hatters. He went on to turn out for Coventry City, Notts County and Coventry City where he played than 100 times. In Non-League, he has played at King`s Lynn and Stamford AFC.

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