PAUL Colgan has been given the role of Rossendale United caretaker manager after Mickey Graham decided to follow John Hughes out of the Dark Lane club.

Hughes was dismissed after the Stags’ 2-0 home defeat to East Lancashire rivals Bacup Borough in the first round of the FA Vase last Saturday.

Following that, his number two Graham was handed the opport-unity to manage the struggling Vodkat Premier Division outfit, but he has instead chosen to quit the club.

The former Bolton Wanderers youth coach will still prepare the Stags squad for tomorrow’s trip to Congleton, but that will be his last involvement with the club before Colgan, also a member of Hughes’ backroom staff, takes on the mantle on a temporary basis.

“We offered the manager’s job to Mickey, but he’s closen not to take it,” said Stags chairman Steve Hobson.

“Mickey and John are very close friends and I think it would have affected their friendship if Mickey had stayed on as manager. I respect his decision “He took training this week and is taking the team to Congleton as a one-off, which I thank him for.”

Hobson added: “Paul has been part of the backroom staff for the last six months and he’s moving it forward for the time being.

“He has helped out a lot behind the scenes. He’s coached, helped out with scouting and has also brought in some players.

“He’s been involved at the likes of Atherton LR, Hyde United and Stalybridge Celtic. He’s got good contacts, so we’ll have to wait and see.”

Hobson has recieved 22 appli-cations for the vacant managerial role, including a handful of ‘very good’ candidates, although he admits Colgan has a chance of replacing Hughes on a permanent basis.

The chairman added: “Paul has stepped up to the plate. Certainly, if he shows he can do the job well in a caretaker capacity, then we will obviously consider him.

“I want somebody who wants to be the manager of Rossendale, and who wants to engender a good team spirit.

“I don’t want somebody who moans over finances.

“We will give the new manager a chance to finish as high as they possibly can this season and build for next year.”