New Maltby boss has tough task ahead

But the 37-year-old admits he has a big job on his hands, after inheriting just four players from the squad that finished the previous campaign.

Speaking to the Guardian less than a week after taking on the job, following Steve Adams’ resignation, Dunn said: “I’ve been left with four players from the last manager, and four weeks to go until the season starts, so it’s a tough job.”

“We’re constantly on the phone trying to get players in for training.”

“Hopefully people will appreciate that we’re starting from scratch and get behind us, and make Maltby a difficult place to come.”

Formerly the boss of Joker FC in the Rotherham Sunday League for seven years, Dunn played for Parkgate when he was younger, and featured for Main for a short spell.

His assistant is Gary Middleton, who remained at the club following the departure of Adams, and he will also be assisted by Andy Carney.

Players still at the club include Greg Mason, Mick Jones, Sam Foulds and Ben Langford, and Dunn says he understands the difficulties he’ll face in building a new squad.

“It’s hard to get players together because a lot of teams in this league pay players and that’s not the case at Maltby, so players get their heads turned,” he said.

“The lads we’ve still got are well up for it, and we’ve had players down to training, but until names are on forms it doesn’t mean a lot.”

Dunn’s first game in charge will come next Wednesday when Main visit Kiveton Park in the first of their pre-season friendlies, before trips to Bentley Colliery on 21st and Askern Villa on 23rd July.

A visit to Sheffield FC follows on 25th and they finish the month on 21st hosting Belper Town.

The club has learned their FA Cup extra preliminary round opponents and the side they’ll face in the FA Vase first qualifying round.

Cheadle Town play host to Main on 11th August in the FA Cup, and they travel to Irlam in the Vase.