Swift replacement planned after Elliott quits

The hunt is underway to replace Craig Elliott at Ossett Town after he quit the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League on Monday to take over at up and coming Northern Counties East League outfit Shaw Lane Aquaforce.

Elliott, pictured right, took the helm at Ingfield in the summer of 2012, guiding the First Division North club, currently eighth and still in the hunt for a play-off spot, to a respectable 12th placed finish in his first season in charge.

Assistant manager Darren Smith and fitness coach Gary Devenport also resigned to join the NCEL Division One promotion hopefuls, reportedly one of the wealthiest clubs in the NCEL with ambitions to reach the Evo-Stik NPL.

Officials at Ingfield issued a brief statement confirming the departures on Monday night as they considered appointing the 35-year-old’s successor. They have already heard from a number of candidates and are inviting further applications before making an early appointment in time for their trip to Cammell Laird on Saturday. A senior player is set to take charge of Tuesday’s First Division North clash at home to New Mills.

Former Glasshoughton Welfare manager Elliott replaces his old assistant Simon Houghton who was sacked last week despite guiding Aquaforce to third in the table and a point off the second promotion spot. He now has 13 games to take his new charges into the Premier Division and repeat his promotion success with Glasshoughton in 2012.

Elliott guided the Ingfielders to a 2-0 win at Curzon Ashton at the beginning of February in his last game in charge.