Caretaker boss Andy Mulliner, the ex-Shrewsbury Town goalkeeping coach, admits he would like to succeed Matt Burton as Ellesmere Rangers manager and keep them top of the West Midland League premier division.
Shrewsbury-based Mulliner, an experienced former Welsh Premier League keeper, switched to Beech Grove at the start of the season as Burton’s No 2.
And he has played a key role in Ellesmere surging to the top of the table, not only for his displays between the posts, but also off the field in a managerial capacity as Burton’s right hand man.
Mulliner concedes it’s a blow for Ellesmere to lose the services of Burton who has opted to climb the football ladder by taking over as boss at Unibond League Market Drayton Town.
But, having kicked off his caretaker stint with a point from a 1-1 draw at Ledbury, Mulliner has revealed he would like to replace Burton as Ellesmere chief.
“The club asked me to look after things on Saturday and I was happy to do that,” said Mulliner.
“At the moment some of the club’s management committee are on holiday so we’ll have to see what happens when they’re all back.
“Whoever steps in has got good shoes to fill because Matt did such a good job.
“I would like to do it and it’s a little bit of continuity.
“We’re in a terrific position and, whatever happens, we have to crack on and do what we have been doing over the first 18 games.”
Mulliner added he had tried to persuade Burton, who also lives in Shrewsbury, to stay at Beech Grove but understood the reasons for the ex-Port Vale trainee wanting to accept the chance to become Drayton manager.
“We’re quite close and we had spoken a lot about it in the week or so before it happened,” he said.
“I tried to twist his arm to stay but this was too good an opportunity to turn down.
“Everyone at the club wishes him well because he’s gone for all the right reasons.”
By Stuart Dunn