Formby have appointed former Burscough FA Trophy hero Gary Martindale as their new manager.

He replaces Mark Maddox, who quit in the summer to move to Leigh Genesis.

As a player Gary started at Burscough before joining Bolton Wanderers, and continued his Football League career over a number of years at Peterborough, Notts County, Mansfield and Rotherham.  He then moved to Telford before returning to Burscough where in his second spell he scored both of Burscough's goals in their 2003 giant-killing FA Trophy victory over Tamworth at Villa Park.

Speaking to the Formby Times last week, Gary outlined his approach to the job.

"I've got big aims and big goals for this club and I've told the lads everyone is starting from scratch," he said.

" I'm not interested in what happened last season, I'm only bothered about people who will train hard and want to be in that first team.  I don't want to just stabilise the club, I want much more and to at least finish in the top part of the table. We want to get out of this league and how quickly we can do that I don't know, but we'll certainly have a crack at it.

Paul Burns has also moved to Altcar Road as Gary's Assistant.

Formby Secretary Lesley Pierce said: "Gary is aiming for the top half of the table.  He is starting from scratch with players and is only interested in players who are prepared to train, work hard and want to play.  Gary already has the lads in training 2 or 3 times a week.

"Between Gary and Paul they have a vast experience in the game and have many contacts within non league.  We are all looking forward to the first pre-season game against Marine on 27th July".