Former Blues are now Saints (From Warrington Guardian)

Former Blues are now Saints

FORMER Winsford United goalkeeper Joe Paladino has headed a consortium that has bought North West Counties Division One side St Helens Town.

Paladino, who also kept goal for Witton Albion and Wigan Athletic, has numerous business interests in mid Cheshire and has brought in Winsford-based Mark Cox as first team manager.

Cox has management experience at a number of non-league clubs including Winsford United and Congleton Town.

He was also head coach for Manchester United's coaching development centres, based in mid Cheshire, before moving to Stoke City in 2003 to head their youth academy set up.

Middlewich's Dave Tulloch joins the management team as Cox's assistant.

He also has extensive experience in football and was involved with Cox at Winsford when they won the Staffordshire Youth FA Cup in 2001.

He has since been involved with both Chorley and Salford City and is expected to take his son Stuart to St Helens with him.

Stuart, who has played for both Winsford United and Middlewich Town, has already attracted the attention of football league scouts from Sheffield United and West Bromwich Albion.

Paladino said: "There is a massive job to be done at what is still a massive club.

"I thoroughly enjoyed my time at both Winsford and Witton and still have many friends and business contacts in the area.

"If I can create the same type of enthusiasm at St Helens that I found at the two mid Cheshire clubs then I will surely achieve success."

Their first match in charge is against Atherton LR and they will then go on to face a crunch match against Congleton, managed by former Winsford manager and Witton player Kevin Langley (pictured above).