VINCE Overson has revealed his desire to move into Football League management after taking up his first post at Padiham.

The Burnley Centre of Excellence coach now has the final word on team affairs at the Arbories after his friend and Padiham boss Graham Haworth brought him in to help kick off his managerial career.

Overson, who played for Burnley, Birmingham and Stoke City in a professional career that spanned more then 500 league games, is hoping his spell in North West Counties Division Two will provide the springboard to managerial success.

"It's a difficult thing to get into," said Overson. "I'm an A class fully-qualified coach and been coaching at Burnley's Centre of Excellence for four and a half years. I've enjoyed it but it's time to try to break into management.

"I would love to become a manager in the Football League but you have to have experience as the jobs are few and far between."

Although it might appear Haworth has initiated his own resignation by drafting in Overson, the former Claret is eager to point out that it's not that clear cut.

"We don't have titles as such," said Overson. "Graham is Padiham through and through and it's not a case of him taking a back seat at all.

"I have the final say on the team, tactics and coaching but Graham is in charge as well and we are working together.

"Graham is a friend of mine anyway and knows I'm ambitious so he asked me to come down to Padiham.

"I helped him out there before when they got promotion but there's been such an improvement down there, it's an ambitious club going forward all the time.

"So if I'm going to start anywhere it's a great place to start. It's local and I'm getting experience dealing with players.

"I'm keeping up my work with the Burnley youth because the two nights of coaching we do are on Monday and Wednesday, while at Padiham it's Tuesday and Thursday.

"Then we play on a Saturday and the Centre of Excellence plays on a Sunday. So I'm fully committed and everything I do is football-orientated to break into the higher leagues."

Overson has also enlisted the help of another Burnley-based boss, one who knows all the tricks of the trade.

"I went to see Stan Ternent for advice about how I went about applying," said Overson.

"He was helpful enough to sit down and give me advice on a few things, which was great of him."

Since quitting playing seven years ago, Overson, now 41, has gained most satisfaction from seeing the youngsters he has coached make the grade.

He added: "I enjoy seeing youngsters make it as professionals, like Richard Chaplow, who I coached at the Centre of Excellence.

"It's exciting when they get in the first team to think that you coached them along when they were kids.

"Now I want to move further on and be in charge myself."