GREAT Harwood have appointed Dave Sharples as their new manager following the resignation of Dave Bradford last week.

Former Blackburn player Bradford had only been in charge for 15 games since taking over from John Hughes in July.

Harwood have only managed one North West Counties Division One win and are bottom of the table with just five points from 12 games.

The manager told the players last Thursday night that enough was enough and assistant Sharples took charge for Saturday's 5-0 loss to Glossop North End - and was officially given the manager's role this week.

Former Stanley, Chorley and Morecambe player Sharples was also assistant to Hughes before he left to join Chorley. It is his first management job and his second in command will be Lee Rodgerson.

"He knows the club," said chairman Bill Holden. "I have had a few phone calls but I don't believe in bringing in people when I have someone there who hopefully can do the job.

"Dave had remained loyal - he could have left over the last month when things weren't going our way but he has stuck at it."

"I am looking forward to the challenge," said 41-year-old Sharples who works for the electricity board.

"I have been here two and a half years so know all about the job. I have been offered the job three times and I decided I might not get another chance so to take it this time or else I would keep wondering.

"I am not going into this blind. We are bottom of the league and it will be a hard task.

"I am, though, trying to get more experienced players in as we have been reliant on youngsters for the last few years."

Outgoing boss Dave Bradford was gutted he couldn't have made a bigger impression.

"I am disappointed it didn't work out," said Bradford. "I tried but it was so hard with injuries, players on holidays and some of the decisions given against us.

"I kept thinking I would hold on and wait and see what would happen but how long do you hold on?

"I kept thinking our luck would change and we were so unlucky. I can't fault anybody at Great Harwood because what I asked for I got but it just didn't work out."

Harwood have a game at high-flying Bacup on Friday (ko 7.45), who are second in the league, and travel to Atherton Collieries on Monday (ko 7.45).

Strikers Paul Mashiter and John Eastham will be back together with Andy Taylor returning after injury.