JAMES Gill said accepting the chance to return to Silsden as manager was too good to refuse.

The 32-year-old has moved back to the Cobbydalers from neighbours Barnoldswick Town following the resignation of Ryan Haigh due to work and family commitments.

And Gill, who has enjoyed two spells with the south Craven club as a player, including the 2004-05 season when they won promotion to the North West Counties League Premier Division under Andy Geary, is relishing the task of keeping them in the top flight.

He said: "I'm very excited about the challenge and can't wait to get stuck in.

"I'm under no illusions that it will be a hard job to ensure we stay in this division but I believe it is one we are more than capable of doing."

Gill has spent the last two years as assistant manager to Stewart Airdrie at Silsden's league rivals Barlick, who the pair have turned into a top ten outfit after saving them from relegation last season.

"It was a chance to assist and also play part-time," said Gill. "It suited me and was a good experience but Silsden is a club I've always had a lot of affinity for and when I got the call to come back it was a no-brainer."

The Cobbydalers are currently five points adrift in the third relegation spot, injuries having hit the first-team squad early on in the campaign before bad weather disrupted the fixture list from the end of November. Silsden have played the least number of games in the division along with Colne.

Gill said: "We have four games in hand on the team above us (Squires Gate) and over half our games still to complete, so there are lots of points to play for.

"We are in this position for a reason and it's my job to change things around.

"But I have never known this amount of games being called off at this level."

In light of the heavy schedule ahead, Gill intends to bolster his squad but will give the current players every chance to prove themselves.

He said: "We could be playing Saturday, Tuesday, Thursday some weeks, so we will need a big squad. I will be looking to strengthen but I also want to go in and work with what we've got."

The new boss, who is set to keep Haigh's assistant Paul Evans as part of his coaching team, is at the helm initially until the end of the season.

But Gill has bigger ambitions and, being from Keighley, hopes he can attract the best local talent to what is the district's highest ranked football club.

He said: "The agreement is until the end of the season and then we'll re-evaluate from there but hopefully it's going to be longer term and I can help bring success back to Silsden.

"Being from Keighley I have some close links to players and it is a key aim to bring more local players back here."

Gill was on Burnley's books as a youngster and also played for Bradford Park Avenue before suffering a badly-broken leg at the age of 22.

The midfielder is registered to play for the Cobbydalers and could feature if required.

Meanwhile, outgoing boss Haigh admitted his personal circumstances meant he was unable to give the club his full commitment in the hectic run-in.

He said: "I have my own business and two young children and, with the number of games still to play, I didn't feel I could push things as far as will be needed.

"For example, at the end of February I will be overseas for four to five days and to leave things all with Paul (Evans) I don't think would be fair.

"I think Gilly can come in and do a good job."

Haigh had been at the helm since March last year when he took over from Andy Geary, having previously been his number two.

A Silsden statement on their website read: "The club would like to put on record their thanks to Ryan, who took over following Andy Geary's retirement last season having initially been the manager of the Academy side."

It continued: "The committee hope that all the fans will get behind the new manager and his team and give them the support they deserve."