NEW Bacup Borough manager Malcolm Holt is keen to distance himself from the controversy surrounding the departure of ex-boss Andy Barton.

A former joint manager with Ken Bridge at Ramsbottom United, Holt accepted the manager's post at West View last Sunday night. It was offered to him following a board meeting the previous Monday.

In a statement issued by the board, Holt was confirmed as the new manager after Barton "resigned from the post".

But Barton strongly denies tendering his resignation, insisting that he was sacked, and is bitter at the way the club has handled events.

"The board has gone behind my back and appointed a man who I had intended would come to West View as my assistant," said Barton.

Holt refused to come to West View in an assistant managerial capacity and then turned down the joint manager's role Barton was prepared to offer him. "I wanted to be my own man," said Holt.

"I didn't want to be an assistant and I made that clear to Andy.

"I'm not aware of any of the controversy about Andy's parting.

"As far as I'm concerned I'm manager of Bacup Football Club and my priority is to ensure they get out of the mess, on the field, they're now in."

Holt took charge of his first training session last night and has already added three new members to the squad, centre forward David Aspinall from Highfield United, left back Mark Bentley, also from Highfield, and ex-Ramsbottom midfield player Maurice Thompson.

"According to the committee, Bacup never had a training session all season," said Holt.

"I'll have a look in coming weeks at the lads we've got, I'll introduce new players to the team and I hope to steer the club into a comfortable mid-table position. It's a big task after the club languishing at such a low level for the last few years.

"But I'm a winner and a disciplinarian and I intend to communicate that to my team."

Meanwhile further details have emerged about Barton's exit. Vice-chairman David Whatmough went to Barton's house on Monday night during which a statement was drawn up.

The statement read: "Andy Barton wants it to be known that he offered his resignation following the 5-2 defeat by Colne (last Saturday week) but agreed to remain as manager until such time as somebody else was found."

But when Barton was approached for comment the next day he maintained he had been sacked.

Club secretary Frank Manning insists he was not aware of Barton's resignation until Monday night even though the board agreed to offer the post of manager to Holt at the previous Monday night's meeting.

When it was put to Mr Manning today that the board's intention must have been to axe Barton if Holt accepted, he refused to comment.

"It angers me when I realise what they (the board) have done," said Barton.

"Things had not been going well recently but they're aware that I had seven players out injured.

"I don't think they have been very fair about the situation but I intend to seek another job in football and will get over this setback."

Bacup Borough entertain Stantondale in NWCL Second Division action tomorrow at West View.

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