New management team at Ossett

The pair will take a watching brief for Monday’s game against Tadcaster Albion, before taking the reins ahead of the New Year’s Day home game with Brighouse Town.

Chairman James Rogers said: “Following the departure of Wayne Benn last week, whilst it was important that we moved swiftly to appoint a replacement, we also needed to ensure we found the right management team to achieve our ambitions looking forward.

“(Jas and Mark) have the experience we were looking for, with time spent at both step four and step three of the non-league pyramid and they both have a very clear vision of what they will bring to Ossett United Football Club.

“Their short term aim is to build on the good work shown in the earlier part of the season and get the feel good factor back into everyone involved with the club.

“From there we can then kick-on and get this club where it needs to be.

“I’d like to also thank James Walshaw and Ross Killock for the great leadership they have shown over the last week in their caretaker role in preparation for our game on Monday.”

Colliver’s last appointment was at Grantham Town, which he left a few weeks ago, and before that he had had extensive managerial experience at Staveley Miners Welfare, Sheffield FC and Handsworth.

He said: Colliver said: “I am delighted to accept the position of manager of Ossett United and really look forward to working with the board, Mark Ward and the existing squad to turn round the recent slump in form and have the club once again climbing the table.

“The side are in a very good position in the table but recent results do not reflect the ability I see in the squad. Wardy and I have already spoken to the current caretaker managers and discussed where the squad needs to be strengthened and will look to bring in some new faces to complement what we already have here.”

Ward, a former England Youth International, recently led Buxton FC to a 20 game unbeaten start to the season and before that had been involved at AFC Mansfield and Hednesford Town amongst others.

Ward added: “Jas gave me a call a couple of days ago saying he was applying for the job here at Ossett United and asked if I would join him, I didn’t have to think twice.”