Bootle reach ten wins from ten as Northern Premier League managers come and go
Behind them, the week was defined by change in the dugout. Stalybridge Celtic parted company with Jon Macken, who joined in October 2024 and led the club to a sixth-place finish and then third place and the play-off final last season. Liam Tongue takes caretaker charge against Kidsgrove while the club speaks to a shortlist of candidates. Runcorn Linnets announced that Michael Ellison had resigned with immediate effect, a day after a 3-1 defeat at Nantwich Town. In the East Division, Stocksbridge Park Steels appointed Jason Blunt as first-team manager, assisted by Michael Norbury and Connor Blunt. Blunt cannot join up until after the Matlock fixture, so his assistants take training and the dugout on Saturday. In his statement he said: "The league table doesn't lie. We know where we stand and the work required." Shifnal Town also named Elliott Bennett as manager.
At the other end of the East Division, Ashington have taken one point from a possible 12 and sit in the bottom four. They lost 3-0 at Grimsby Borough on Saturday, then 3-2 at West Auckland on Tuesday after conceding twice in the first three minutes. Marc Ellison said: "We can't be a bit-part team. We need to be at it from minute one to minute 90." West Auckland Town found a late winner in the 88th minute.
