Avenue boss Benny Phillips is hoping Richard Chattoe will not follow Phil Sharpe and Clive Freeman out of Horsfall Stadium.

The former management have moved on after seeing out the end of the season at the club following the appointment of full-time boss Phillips.

But the new man in charge has since brought in two new backroom staff and is hoping Chattoe will also remain.

"I want it to be a four-man team - me, Lee Coathup, Wayne Porter and Richard Chattoe.

"I really want Richard to stay on. I know he was a big part of the last set up but Phil Sharpe and Clive Freeman have chosen to move on.

"There is no reason, in my mind, why Richard can't stay because of that.

"We have offered him a position and it will be up to him if he takes it. I want him to and cannot see any problems.

"I have worked with him towards the end of last season while Phil and Clive were still here and I saw enough of his coaching skills to want to keep him on board."

Phillips is keen to stress the two new men he has brought in have no specific titles.

"I know John (club chairman Dr Dean) keeps referring to one of the new people as assistant manager and one as scout but we don't see it that way. It amuses us," said Phillips.

"As I see it I now have two people assisting me, doing all sorts of jobs to help us bring the club on as we prepare for the coming season.

"Regarding Lee and Wayne, I'm delighted that they have come to join this club at a very exciting time.

"Lee is very good with his work in the dressing room and running coaching sessions. Wayne will watch players and teams as well as helping with training schedules and Rich-ard, hopefully, will remain as a contact for the local lads and for his coaching skills.

"They all bring something different to the table and we have all had our experiences in the game down the years.

"I worked with Wayne at Witton Albion and at Leek Town as part of the coaching staff.

"When I was a player at Stalybridge Celtic, Lee was one of my team mates and he was still a player when I moved onto the coaching staff. I have seen what these people, all three of them, can do at very close quarters and I want them alongside me now.

"Football is a team game and for me that means you need a good team off the field doing the work.

"Sharing the duties and the ideas, it is all about opinions and if you have good men around you then you get good opinions."