AMBITIOUS Clitheroe chairman Carl Garner believes the club's new management duo will herald the dawn of a new era at Shawbridge.

Fans' favourite Neil Reynolds and former Kendal Town manager Peter Smith have been unveiled as the new management duo.

Garner revealed they were unanimous winners in a vote following a board meeting, way in front of applicants among whom boasted Football League experience.

And he is confident that exciting times lie ahead for the Blues under their leadership, with the emphasis being heavily placed on giving the club a more local feel.

"It's a fresh start, a new era and a new ethic for us," said a delighted Garner.

"We're looking a bit more closer to home than we have for the last couple of seasons and I'm sure the majority of our supporters will relish the news.

"Neil knows the club inside out. He has been a Clitheroe player, and both he and Peter are both going to sign on as players as well incase they are needed.

"Between them they know the non-league circuit in the north west, particularly the Preston, Blackburn and Burnley area.

"They are everything you could wish for in a non-league management team - young, vibrant, they will put on good coaching sessions and they are well liked in the non-league game."

Since the new management team was unveiled, Clitheroe have already suffered one loss of personnel, with Steve Hussey joining Marine after submitting a request to be released.

And Garner expects more changes will be in the pipeline.

"It's the first time in probably 18 months that the club has gone for someone that's more locally based rather than having a manager travel in from other areas, and we think that's the way to go.

"We've got players travelling in from Yorkshire, Liverpool and Blackpool, but we feel we're the biggest non-league club in the area so we should be able to bring in the best non-league players from this area now and we hope Neil and Pete can attract those sorts of players.

"We're looking in the M65 corridor for the best players."

Reynolds will be in sole charge of the team when they entertain Bamber Bridge tomorrow as Smith has suffered a family bereavement.