Non-league: James Colliver steps in as new Sheffield FC boss

Colliver resigned his post at Northern Counties East Premier Division side Clipstone to take over with immediate effect.

He replaces Andy Kiwomya who stepped down on Monday, following a run of poor results.

Colliver had a successful managerial spell with Staveley MW before taking over at Clipstone.

He has also had spells as player/assistant manger at Frickley Athletic and Worksop Town following a playing career that started at Rotherham United after which came spells with Stocksbridge Park Steels and Ilkeston.

His first game in charge will be Saturday’s trip to Carlton Town.

Chris Dolby had been in charge on an interim basis and helped inspire renewed confidence in Club as they grabbed a first win in seven games - a 3-0 success over Belper Town on Tuesday night.

And, speaking before Colliver was announced as the new manager, Dolby said that morale in the camp has risen over the past few days.

“Confidence was a bit low following the recent results but it was a happy dressing room after the Belper game,” he said.

“Hopefully it will kick start things and get us climbing up the table.

“The players will be thrown a challenge to go and do it again at Carlton.

“It’s a fresh start for everyone and they know they will be playing for their shirts with a new manager set to be appointed.”

Carlton came from a goal down to beat Club 2-1 on the opening day of the season in Dronfield but go into the game fourth from bottom having lost five or their last six league outings.

Stocksbridge Park Steels boss Chris Hilton has demanded maximum points from the next two home games in order to keep his side’s play-off hopes alive.

Steels host Newcastle Town on Saturday before welcoming Goole AFC on Tuesday.

“If you’re being honest you have to say that we need to win the next two home games,” Hilton said.

“If we get the ball down and play like we can then we don’t fear anyone.

“All the players from back to front have stepped up their game in the last few weeks.

“We’ve played teams that were sixth, seventh and third in the last three games, conceded just one goal and come away with four points, although it really should certainly have been five.

“It shows that we are going in the right direction.

“For the players to come in at the end of the game at Shaw Lane and be thoroughly disappointed to not have got something from the game says a lot about the squad we have here.

“There is still a long way to go. We’re just five points outside the play-offs and still have 16 games to place.

“We’ve only got Stafford Rangers to face twice and Leek Town once out of the top five.

“We’ve got the difficult bit done now so we need to take points off those teams around us and see where it takes us.”

Adam Hinchliffe returns to the squad after suspension while Hilton is hopeful Joe Lumsden will have shaken off a knock picked up in midweek.

Newcastle arrive in 15th, five places behind Steels having had a mixed start to 2016 with two wins and two defeats in the last six.

Shaw Lane Aquaforce travel to runaway leaders Stafford Rangers who hold a huge 17 point gap at the top over second-placed Coalville.

The Ducks – third in the table – trail Rangers by 23-points but with seven games in hand and know they have to take maximum points if they are to hold any hope of catching the leaders.