PAUL Carden has returned to Warrington Town for a second spell as manager.

The club have confirmed their former boss's return to Cantilever Park having quickly identified him as their number one target following the resignation of Mark Beesley, who was Carden's assistant manager during his five-year spell in charge before taking the reins upon his departure.

Talks between the club, Carden and Nantwich Town, where the 45-year-old has been manager since February of last year, have progressed smoothly to the point where his return to Yellows can now be confirmed.

First team coach Nigel Keogh and goalkeeping coach Mark Canning, who are set to remain in their current posts, took charge of this afternoon's National League North clash with Spennymoor Town at Cantilever Park but will now hand over to Carden, whose second spell in charge will start with a trip to Chorley on October 5.

His first spanned from October 2016 to November 2021, when he was tempted away from the club by AFC Telford United.

During that time, he took charge of more than 200 games with a win rate of more than 50 per cent and guided the club to the brink of promotion to the National League North twice.

They were beaten in the 2017-18 play-off semi-finals by Grantham Town but the following season, they were victorious in the Northern Premier League Premier Division play-off final at South Shields, only to lose to King’s Lynn Town in a one-off ‘super play-off’ to deny them promotion.

Upon his departure, Beesley took the reigns and after losing that season's play-off final to Scarborough Athletic, Town finally finished the job in May 2023 by beating Bamber Bridge to secure promotion to the National League North.

Beesley then guided them to a top-half finish at their new level last season, but his resignation came after a difficult start to this campaign.

Carden’s time at Telford lasted just under a year – he kept the club in the National League North upon joining but left in October 2022 with the club bottom of the table.

He was not out of work for long, joining Nantwich Town in February 2023 but he could not save them from relegation from the NPL’s top flight.

The Dabbers finished 10th in the NPL West Division last season and this time around, they are currently 16th after six matches.