CHORLEY chairman Jack Kirkland does not anticipate any problem in filling the Victory Park manager's job, suddenly vacated by Dave Sutton's resignation earlier this week.

And there was an understandable ring of confidence about his smile when he revealed: "We expect a lot of interest. We had 96 applications for the job last time before Dave Sutton took over."

Yet it could be that Mr Kirkland will be spared the task of once more wading through sheafs of applications from the serious, the optimistic and, of course, the downright daft who simply want to be manager of a football club - any football club.

For the answer might still be found on the chairman's own doorstep, in the shape of caretaker-manager Steve Doyle.

If the Magpies are looking for a playing pedigree, Doyle can provide it.

First-hand knowledge of how things tick behind the scenes at Victory Park?

No problem for the 38-year-old who left Rochdale to team up with Sutton as his number two last year. And if Mr Kirkland's wish is to appoint a man with the steely resolve needed to end Chorley fans' frustrating wait for the club's potential to be realised, then he might just find it in the former midfield star.

After a playing career that brought more than 600 League appearances for Preston, Huddersfield, Sunderland, Hull and Rochdale, Doyle knows the game.

He also knows what he wants.

Does that include the Chorley job?

"I will have to see how it goes but the answer would probably have to be yes," he said after watching the team go down at Great Harwood in their first game since Sutton's departure.

"Hopefully they will give me a chance.

"Obviously I wanted to win (at Gt Harwood) but it's difficult at places like this.

"And I need a little time to make my influence felt. People who expect things to happen overnight don't know the game."

Fair point, as Doyle had been in charge only 24 hours and the club have suffered badly from injuries. He also knows what he wants and expects from the players, believing that Chorley are capable of fulfilling their dreams.

Having worked in tandem with Sutton, he said: "We have similar ideas but we might have different ideas about individual players.

"No two people are the same and there's a certain way I like to play.

"I am looking for players who will have a go for me. That's the way I played and that's what I want from the players here.

"The squad is here at Chorley to do well. But injuries have been a problem and we have two or three quality players out.

"Carl Marginson has scored 10 goals already this season and you can't afford to lose players like that. You are going to miss them because they can make all the difference."

Can Doyle make the difference in the manager's chair? Only time will tell but the chairman hinted he might be given a chance.

"Steve knows how things run here, so we aren't going to rush into anything," added Mr Kirkland.

Doyle will be delighted if they take all the time in the world.

Chorley hope to have the influential Dean Emerson back in action for tomorrow's Premier Division game against high-riding Hyde United at Victory Park.

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