Craig Elliott, pictured managing Glasshoughton in April 2011 against Bottesford, believes Jon Miles deserves a shot at managing Welfare
Craig Elliott is backing reserve team manager Jon Miles as Glasshoughton Welfare prepare to decide how they will replace Rob Hunter tonight.
Welfare have a committee meeting this evening and the two main topics of discussion is who will take charge of Saturday’s Toolstation NCEL Premier Division trip to Armthorpe Welfare and who will be the manager for at least the rest of the season.
Miles is currently in the driving seat having led Glasshoughton to their first win of 2014 on Tuesday night against Liversedge and he has also announced his intention to apply for the job.
Former Welfare boss Elliott was the man who guided the club back into the Premier Division in 2012 and he believes Miles deserves at shot at managing the first team.
“It is not my place to tell them what to do, but I like Jon Miles, the reserve team manager, he’s a good bloke and I know he had a good result on Tuesday so I would like to see him get a chance,” the current Shaw Lane Aquaforce manager said.
“He’s been there a few years and he’s done the hard yards and apprenticeship so I think it would be a good choice. It would be a big jump, but that’s the jump I made. I was the manager of Kellingley in the West Yorkshire League and I made that jump (in 2010).
“Phil (Riding) is obviously a good chairman and he knows what he wants to do with the club so I’m sure he will make a good decision.
“They do have a bit of time because Rob has left them in a good position and safe in the league so there is no reason to panic.”
Whoever Glasshoughton choose to appoint will be their third manager since Elliott left for Ossett Town two years ago after leading them to promotion.
Welfare initially replaced him with Graham Hodder whose reign lasted six months as the club were heading into a relegation battle.
Hunter was quickly appointed and he kept them in the Premier Division. Hunter has done the same again this season, but has fallen on his sword with 11 games to go and Elliott says Hunter has done well at Leeds Road.
“I was shocked because I thought he had been doing a good job this season,” he said.
“Obviously a few results had been a bit shaky in the last few weeks, but in general he can be proud of what he has achieved there.”