Guardian Sport

Winsford United appoint Mike Alcock as successor to Terry Murphy

By Andrew Simpson

3:54pm Thursday 20th August 2009

MIKE Alcock has vowed to finish the job he started with Terry Murphy at Winsford United.

The former Middlewich Town number two agreed to replace his friend as manager following Blues’ FA Cup exit on Tuesday.

Murphy resigned at the weekend to spend more time with his family.

“I’m excited by the challenge,” said Alcock.

“Obviously I wish the circumstances to be different as I’ve worked alongside Terry for a long time. He’s a close friend of mine too.

“But I felt I could not walk away from Winsford so soon after starting work on a long-term project here.

“I want to carry on.”

Alcock will be assisted by former Nantwich Town U18s manager Tony Ledwards, who has been coaching Blues’ first team.

The pair took charge for the first time in the 6-4 reverse against Flixton.

Alcock added: “I feel for Terry.

“I know he would have loved to have finished what he started here but he has to think about other things at the moment.

“I’ve always wanted a crack at being a manager and this is an opportunity for me to prove to myself I can do it.

“We’ve worked hard putting an exciting young team together over the summer and I want to see how far they can go.”

Murphy, 69, told the Guardian on Monday that he was sad to leave Barton Stadium less than three months after making the move from Seddon Street.

He said: “I’m gutted.

“There are one or two things I need to attend to at home which are far more important than football.

“It’s something that has come to light since I agreed to do the job, otherwise I would not have come to Winsford.”

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