Squires Gate have announced the appointment of Gary Hargreaves as their new manager, after former player/manager Russ McKenna and his number two Nigel Taylor stepped down due to other committments.

Announcing the appointment, Gate Chairman Stuart Hopwood said: "We would like to thank Russ McKenna and Nigel Taylor for their committed service and friendship over the last few years and we wish them both well in the future.

"Gary had associations at Blackpool FC while Steve McMahon was in charge, and has also managed Garstang FC in the West Lancashire League Premier Division where he won the League while in charge.

"More recently he was involved at AFC Blackpool, and was part of the managment team that helped them gain promotion to their current status in the NWCFL Premier Division.

"Gary takes the reigns at Gate's training session on Tuesday night, where he will be looking forward to meeting the players and staff before making plans for his first game, when Gate travel away to Glossop North End next Saturday.

"This is an exciting challenge for Gary, who finds Gate languishing at the wrong end of the table, but I'm confident he'll turn things round".