Former Silsden manager Andy Geary will join a coaching coalition' at the helm of Barnoldswick Town FC.

Prior to Geary's arrival, Barnoldswick Town, currently in 13th place in the West Lancashire League's Premier Division, were being managed by three players.

Mick Holt, Stephen Chew and captain Stewart Airdrie have led the squad in training and on match days for the last two weeks, as the club's manager, Graham Haworth, has work commitments that will keep him busy until the end of the season.

Geary will join that set-up and assist Holt and Chew, who have been ringing up players and picking the team, while Airdrie was helping the pair out in training and on match days.

Barnoldswick Town secretary Lynn James said: "Both Mick and Stephen were finding it hard to play and be on the sidelines at the same time. Both players want to play and the club wants them to play."

Enter Geary, who will assist the players in managing the side until the end of the season.

Although Town have won both games that the players have been in charge, they are still struggling in the league with only three teams below them.

Geary said: "With the good squad they've got there, they're in a false position."

He also acknowledged that both playing and managing at the same time can be difficult, saying: "You can't play and run a team at the same time. I'll be supporting the lads until the end of the season."

Geary, who has not managed at the senior level since June 2006 when he stepped down as Silsden manager after ten years, is looking forward to his new role at Barnoldswick Town.

He said: "It's something that's cropped up at the right time. I had been contemplating going back."

Although he has not managed the senior team at Silsden, for the last two years he has been in charge of his son Ben's team at the club, who are now U-13s.

Geary had a very successful ten years in charge of Silsden's first team, leading them to seven promotions. When he took the reins, the club were in the Craven League's second division.

Current Silsden manager Paul Schofield, who played and coached under Geary, said of his former Silsden boss: "I have nothing but praise for what Andy has done for Silsden.

"He's good at motivating players and getting the lads to have a good spirit in the camp. He has great man management skills and will help them (Barnolsdwick) out."