STEVE Shaughnessy has wasted no time making his mark on Winsford United by signing a new club captain in his first week in charge.

David Lowe, a goalscoring midfielder, has arrived from Shaughnessy's former club Trafford to spearhead Winsford's assault on the UniBond Division One title race.

The new manager, who replaced Kevin Tully last week, has spent all of his first week trying to attract his own players to the club.

"I've not had the phone away from my ear," said Shaughnessy. "It's proving difficult at this late stage, but I'm looking to get a centre half in before the season starts."

Blues' young manager makes his bow against Harrogate Town, the division's big spenders, at Barton Stadium on Saturday (3pm), and he's relishing the prospect.

"It's exciting, I can't wait for the season to start," said Shaughnessy.

"The hardest part this week is going to be telling the players who have come in pre-season that they don't figure in my plans for the start of the season.

"But that's one part of the job I've got to get used to and it's got to be done Obviously, Kevin brought his lads down for pre-season, but what I've tried to do is get a couple of my own players in and complement the ones already there.

"I got the job very late in pre-season so I can only work with the tools I've got and see how it goes."

Shaughnessy will be keeping faith with some of last year's squad, particularly younger players Danny Worthington, Karl Rendell, Liam Raven and Troy Hadar.

But it's the boss himself will be leading from the front as he plays himself in attack for the tough test on Saturday.

"Whoever plays well will get the shirt," said Shaughnessy. "I think you've got to have a certain amount of experience in the side. You can't go with youth all the time, there has to be a mix.

"Every game is going to be difficult, it's a different type of league to the Premier where there's more emphasis on football. In the first division, it's more about the physical and the fitness side."

Despite United's harrowing 1999-2000 campaign, Shaughnessy has no qualms about leading the Blues on the field, because of the support he will get off it.

Under Dalton Steele two seasons ago, Shaughnessy was the assistant manager in one of the UniBond Premier's best teams.

He added: "Dalton wished me all the best when he heard I'd got the job and said he would help if I needed any advice.

"But there are plenty of others to turn to, I can rely on the people here like Don Page and Mark Cox to work with me. There needs to be people in the club to bounce ideas off, not just on the playing side.

"If I need to get a permanent assistant I will do, but I want to see how the season starts off.

"Opportunities to go into management don't come round too often so you have to grab them with two hands and make the most of it.

"I'll give it my best shot, as will the players. I'll make mistakes like everyone else, and learn by them."

The major injury worry for the visit of Harrogate is centre half Steve Hibbert, who is due for a hernia operation.

Blues have no midweek game in the first week of the season due to scheduled opponents Vauxhall's involvement in the UniBond Cheshire Cup, so their second game is a week on Saturday at Ashton United.

Derby day follows on August Bank Holiday Monday when Witton Albion visit Barton Stadium.

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