IT'S time to look to the future. That's the message from Clitheroe caretaker manager Martin Eatough.

The Blues were rocked by the shock resignation of player-boss Lee Sculpher last week after over three years in charge, leading to defeats at Gresley last Saturday and at home to Warrington Town.

But Eatough hopes the players have now had sufficient time to deal with the situation.

"A week's a long time in football," said the stand-in boss, who hopes to welcome back Chris Whittingham for tomorrow's home derby with Rossendale after a bug.

"We could have done without having three games in the space of seven days since Lee resigned, especially as we've lost two of those already.

"But the players have had time for the news to sink in.

"Without meaning to sound horrible, I suppose Lee's history now as far as the players go. They've got to look ahead.

"Last Saturday's game was typical of a team that's lost their manager, trying to keep things together but then running out of steam.

"We were very unlucky to lose, but Tuesday was different - we only deserved a point at best then.

"But those results make tomorrow's game a real biggy. If we win, we're looking at the top half of the table. If we lose we're further away from that."

But Rossendale chief Mark Molyneaux has stressed that he is not interested in Clitheroe's off-field problems.

"All clubs have their own problems - my concern is Rossendale and getting them back on the right track," the goalkeeper said after Tuesday's 1-0 home defeat against Woodley Sports.

"I'm looking for my boys to bounce back from a very disappointing display.

"Everyone was poor. They've all got something to prove to me now but they'll all get the chance to do that.

"They've set themselves a benchmark of playing decent football and collecting points."

Meanwhile, Eatough has admitted that he doesn't feel he could commit to becoming the new manager long term but did intimate that he would be interested in a stab at the post short-term if a suitable replacement was not found immediately.

"It's not that I don't fancy the job, I just don't know whether I can give it the time it deserves," he said.

"I've missed a few training sessions and a couple of games thorugh work and I'm not sure if that's the right thing to do as a manager.

"If whoever comes in wants me to stay that would be great because I don't really want to leave the club.

"I've spoken to the chairman and said that if, after the closing date, he's not happy with the applications received then obviously we might need to talk again and see if we can make the arrangement semi-permanent.

"But from a long-term point of view they need someone who can commit to the next two or three seasons."