THE chairman of Conference club Southport has made an audacious bid to land Lancaster City manager Tony Hesketh for his club the Citizen can reveal.

But the ma nager wouldn't be drawn on the matter except to say he was happy to stay at City.

Southport chairman Charlie Clapham is a long-time admirer of Hesketh and has interviewed him on previous occasions. He has been looking for a new manager since Paul Futcher left the club recently and has contacted Hesketh.

Southport have received a number of applications for the job and will be interviewing in the next couple of weeks.

Hesketh commented: "I'm very happy with City and I'm happy to stay. We are a club on the up and I'm enjoying my time here."

Tony Hesketh had a lot of experience at Conference level working alongside Jim Harvey at Morecambe. Directors at Lancaster City had tried to prise him away from Christie Park before they eventually succeeded last season.

During his short time at the Giant Axe Tony Hesketh has transformed the club. City topped the table earlier this season and Hesketh has been widely credited by many fans as producing the best team at the Axe for years.

Meanwhile star player centre back Jamie Udall looks likely to be back in action ahead of Saturday's game at home to Gainsborough Trinity. Udall injured his ankle on Saturday but has recovered well. Striker Neil Morton may have to undergo surgery on his shin bone muscle. It was originally thought the player had a much more serious knee injury. The operation to his shin would mean the player could be back in action sooner than was first feared.

Manager Tony Hesketh praised the club's loyal band of travelling supporters after Saturday's victory at Hucknall Town as well as his players. He enthused: "That was the nosiest and biggest group of travelling supporters we've had all season. They were magnificent."

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