CHORLEY chairman Jack Kirkland today faced up to the prospect of UniBond First Division football next season after the Magpies were officially relegated.

League officials gave Hucknall Town's Watnall Road ground the thumbs up at a final inspection yesterday and the Nottinghamshire outfit will now replace Chorley in the UniBond Premier Division next season.

The decision will come as a huge blow to the Victory Park club who have been left in limbo over the last six weeks since their place in the bottom two of the Premier Division was confirmed.

But Kirkland put on a brave face today and admitted he and his board would now have to reassess the whole situation at the club.

"It was a life-line for us but as far as I was concerned we were relegated anyway because we finished in the bottom two," said Kirkland.

"But good luck to Hucknall. The whole community has worked very hard to get their ground up to scratch and they've managed to do it.

"We've got to reassess everything at the club now.

"We need a new manager in place as quickly as possible, someone who can get us straight back up, because we've lost some time because of all this."

Kirkland confirmed the club has received 44 applications for the post so far and he hopes to make an appointment within the next seven days.

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