IT WAS a week to remember for former Claret Dave Miller.

Miller, son of ex-Turf Moor boss Brian and who made 38 appearances for his hometown club, has seen his Stalybridge Celtic side get survival within their grasp in the Nationwide Conference - and acquire a personal fortune of £85,000 with a lottery win!

Miller replaced Paul Futcher as manager at Bower Fold just over a week ago, having served as Leigh RMI assistant-manager, and in those few days has seen his new club gain nine precious points.

Success in his first game against struggling Forest Green has been followed by a 2-0 success over Yeovil, in which Anthony Shandran the striker on loan from Burnley scored, and then a 1-0 home success against third in the table Doncaster Rovers.

And all that plus the bonus of a cash windfall.

"It's a nice cushion for my family," admitted Miller. "Perhaps we might move house and maybe buy a new car. You hope it might be you that wins but never really believe it."

Miller is still having to concnetrate on avoiding relegation.

Celtic are in the zone placed third bottom but are now level on 42 points with Scarborough, Woking and Chester - the three teams above them.

"I know it's not going to go on like it has and there will be setbacks on the way," said Miller.

"But as long as you are wide awake to the situation then you can deal with it.

"I am delighted with the players levels of fitness and their ability. I didn't know what to expect but they have shown commitment and responded well."

Miller joined his hometown team in 1982 as an apprentice and stayed until 1985 when he joined Tranmere Rovers.

His Prenton Park tenure was short and in 1986 he joined Preston North End.

He was to become a crowd favourite during his three-year spell at Deepdale and at the end of his time there, he spent a short period on loan back at Turf Moor before Carlisle paid the princely sum of £30,000 for him.

Over a hundred appearances were made in a Carlisle shirt during his three-year stint in the borders, before Stockport brought him back to the north west with a £25,000 price tag.

Over 70 appearances later, his contract ended, and he made the short trip to Wigan Athletic, appearing 34 times, but after struggling to get into the first team during his two years with the Latics, and joined Morecambe in 1996 on a free transfer.

Injury blighted his time at Morecambe, and in 1998, he became assistant manager at the Shrimps, but when Steve Waywell needed an assistant manager to fill the vacant post at Leigh RMI, Miller was the man he wanted.

His arrival at Bower Fold was at the second attempt as he was one of the three candidates up for the vacant post at Celtic after Phil Wilson's departure in the summer of 2001.

Miller was pipped at the post by former Manchester City defender Futcher. However, when it looked certain that Celtic would be heading back down again, he was brought in with only a handful of games left, and asked to turn Celtic's slide around.