RADCLIFFE Borough launched a new reserve team this week with both chairman and manager saying it was imperative for the club's long-term future.

Boro chief Paul Hilton and manager Bill Prendergast took over at Boro in the summer and quickly set about revitalising the Evo-Stik League outfit - both on and off the pitch.

Nurturing and developing their own players was at the heart of the club's new business plan, and Hilton says the creation of a reserve team was always central to that aim.

"It was imperative to the club that we had this in place," said the Boro chairman.

"Launching the reserve team is a really important step for us so we can not only develop our own players but also properly manage the process.

"It is something the club has not had for a long time but something we needed to do."

Prendergast has promoted 31-year-old first-team coach Jay Brownell, who previously worked at Hilton's amateur side Mace, to reserve team manager.

"Jay has proved himself to me since joining us in the summer," said Prendergast.

"He obviously came highly recommended by Paul and has worked with us all season as a coach with the first team.

"It is our policy to try to promote from within and was the natural choice. He has been terrific to work with, very enthusiastic and clearly cares about the players."

The reserve team had their first outing on Tuesday, and will continue to play at the same venue in central Manchester where the first team now train.

With the first team's match at Lancaster City postponed on Saturday, the game gave Prendergast the chance to have a look at some of his squad players in action.

He also gave a first run-out to new season-long loan signings Nick Kennedy, a 17-year-old centre-forward from York City, and right-back Charlie Doyle, who has joined from FC United.

"I am pleased to have been given the chance to see them in action," added the Boro boss.

"Obviously, that is the beauty of having a reserve team, that you don't just have to throw players in.

"It also gives us more control over players' development.

"We have around 30 players registered to play for the first team, yet I would say only 18 of those are regulars.

"The other option is to send players out on loan to get game time, but that is not always ideal.

"Our reserve side will play the same front-foot football that we encourage in the first team, so they will all understand our philosophy.

"Clearly, the aim of the club is to produce players that we can develop and sell on.

"There has already been lots of interest in our current squad, so we are maybe ahead of the game. What we need is for our reserve players to be pushing for a spot and ready to come in when a place becomes available."

Prendergast has confirmed that the loan deal for goalkeeper Tadhg Ryan, who signed from Huddersfield following a serious injury to previous stopper Matty Johnson, has been extended to the end of December.