WARRINGTON Town’s new manager feels under no pressure to deliver the title this season after the club parted company with Shaun Reid last week.

Reid’s number two, and friend of 27 years, Stuart Mellish has taken the job on an indefinite basis with coach Lee Smith stepping up to support him.

The result of a meeting between Reid and chairman Toby Macormac was the former Rochdale midfielder would leave the club with immediate effect, something Mellish admits came as a surprise.

But the former Metropolitan Police senior detective, whose professional career spanned the likes of Blackpool, Rochdale, Bury and Wrexham before being forced to retire at 27, is determined to continue Town’s promotion push.

His side sit eight points clear of Northwich Victoria heading into Saturday’s trip to Droylsden, albeit having played three games more.

However Mellish, embarking on his first foray into management, insists rivals Vics should be considered favourites for the title.

“Everything came as a bit of a shock as you can imagine,” said the 46-year-old. “I got the call from the chairman on Thursday morning and he said the club and Shaun have parted company and offered me the manager’s position. I accepted.

“There’s no time scale on the job, we just want to go and get promoted..

“I might tweak tactics or personnel, but other than that it’s business as usual.”

Mellish, who also spent time in non-league with Vics’ now-landlords Witton Albion, added: “I think it (the title) is going to go to the wire, but it’s not ours to lose.

“Northwich Victoria can go top if they win all their games, so the pressure is on them. There’s no pressure on us and we’ll take each games as it comes.”

The Yellows visit a Droylsden side on Saturday who conceded 16 goals in three days last week, including an 8-2 drubbing from Vics, while Mellish witnessed their 8-0 loss at Brighouse on Monday.

“I’m hoping this Saturday we will have a more confident attacking display,” he added, having guided Town to a nervy 1-0 win over Ossett Albion on his managerial debut last weekend.

“We have got to earn the right to win every game.

“I watched Droylsden in midweek and they were the better side for the first 15 minutes, but Brighouse upped their game and earned the right to win.

“That’s how we’ll approach our game; there will be no complacency but I’m confident if we do what we can do we’ll win.”

Warrington Guardian:

Former Everton prospect Ged Kinsella has re-signed for the Yellows. Picture: John Hopkins

A Brett Souter own goal earned Town three points at Cantilever Park last weekend, with former Everton prospect Ged Kinsella making a return following unsuccessful spells at Hyde and Skelmersdale.

“It was a hectic 48 hours from Thursday to Saturday and I thought the lads looked a bit anxious, which is understandable,” he added.

“They settled down as the game went on but losing Killer (Ciaran Kilheeney, red card) in the second half was a blow.

“Defensively we looked solid, compact and difficult to break down.

“You will win more games than you lose if you are keeping clean sheets.

“We got a sniff that he (Kinsella) may be available – he’s a quality player and a great lad, so as soon as we had the chance we got him back.”