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New Hart beat  by  Joe Boyle
26/10/2007


RAMSBOTTOM United have appointed Neil Hart as their new manager.

Hart replaces Lee Sculpher and he joins Rammy after a two-year spell with Turton in the West Lancashire Premier Division.

His assistant will be former Rammy player Ian McLellan.

The new Rammy boss was with Bolton Wanderers for three years but failed to break into the first team. He then moved to Sweden and played for Gilleby for a couple of seasons before picking up a serious knee injury and returning home.

Hart, 35, later played for Chorley, Radcliffe Borough and Atherton LR before his first spell of management with Lancashire Amateur League side Old Boltonians.

After some success he moved on to Turton, who have lost only one league game from 16 this season.

Hart is currently studying for his UEFA B coaching badge and works in advertising sales.

He was unable to attend Ramsbottom’s defeat on Saturday by Newcastle but asked his brother to run an eye over the team.

The new boss introduced himself to the players on Tuesday night but Liam McManus, Chris Nestor and Matt Houldsworth were not prepared to give him a chance to show what he could do and have left the club.

But coming in the door are Dave Hanlon and Matt Kay, both from Woodley Sports, and Turton trio Matt Eckersley, Gino Pulvino and Ben Kitchen – who played briefly at Rossendale United.

A plus for the new boss is that Anthony Johnson, who was wanted by Chorley, has decided to stay at the Riverside.

Hart said: ‘I have to assess the squad and what we have got and where we need to strengthen. I have five or six players who are coming to the club. Obviously we need to strengthen the defence in a couple of areas and I have a couple of midfielders and a striker. I have seen Ramsbottom on two or three occasions and the nucleus is good but if we are serious about challenging we need to strengthen in certain areas.’

He added: ‘I just want to go in and get them organised and a little bit fitter. I honestly think that if we come together and put a consistent run together then we may be knocking on the door of the top six. The potential is massive and it is standing out for someone to come in and give it a real go and I hope that is me.’

Ramsbottom United chairman Harry Williams said: ‘Neil came over very well in the interview and is interested in bringing young players through. He sounded like the man for us, can work within the budget and we will take it from here.’