BERNARD Manning Jnr is looking for someone to replace him as chairman of Radcliffe Borough after announcing his intention to step down at the end of the season.

The Boro chief has been associated with the club since 1989 after initially arriving as a player before going on to serve as a director and then chairman.

He remains the club’s major shareholder and intends to stay on to run the ground and community side of the business, but wants a “football-minded person” to take over the reins of day-to-day club management.

“I have run the football side of things since Kevin Glendon stepped aside two years ago,” he said.

“The plan is to have someone else in place by the pre-season at the latest.

“I will not be walking away entirely, I will still ensure the utility bills are paid and the ground is maintained.

“But whoever comes in as chairman will be responsible for making sure the football team’s finances are taken care of.

“If that means an investor, then fine, but I think it would suit someone who is interested in the football business and wants a practical role.

“I have already worked hard to get a main club sponsor and 10 smaller ones, who each pay £1,000 a year.

“We also have a club lottery and run a golf day to raise money.

“The new chairman would be responsible for those and coming up with new ideas to take the club forward.

“That’s what Radcliffe Borough really needs, someone with some fresh ideas and energy.

“We have a good management team in place in Danny Johnson and Dave Powell, who I think have done a good job in putting a decent foundation in place. But this club needs to push on and be up at the other end of the table, challenging for promotion.”

Boro endured a difficult night in Evo-Stik First Division North action on Tuesday night, losing 6-1 at home to promotion chasers Clitheroe.

The result, coupled with a rare victory for second-bottom Harrogate Railway Athletic, left them five points above the relegation zone, with matches at Scarborough Athletic and Ossett Albion to come this week.

They will have to do that without the services of Danny Lafferty and captain Rick Smith, who are suspended.

But while the club’s first team have been in better shape during Manning Jnr’s reign, he believes they are in a better place than when he arrived.

“When I first became a director we were in a bad way, but over the years we have worked hard to build the club back up,” he added.

“I had 10 or 15 great years with Kevin Glendon, we were a great double act and while it cost me a lot of money, we created memories that money just couldn’t buy.

“Over the last few years we have made sure the club is debt-free, but it now needs someone with more energy than me to take it on to the next level.”