Jon McCarthy says his first action should he be appointed Chester FC manager on a permanent basis would be to get Ian Sharps to continue as his number two.

The pair have steered the club out of danger with two wins from three games since the board asked first-team coach McCarthy to take charge until the end of the season after sacking Steve Burr on April 7.

McCarthy asked Sharps to assist him with the team and the duo have struck up a good understanding and, crucially, quickly gained the support of the squad.

Applications for the post of manager closed on Monday and The Chronicle understands 45-year-old McCarthy has made a four-man shortlist. The quartet will be interviewed next week and an appointment could be made before next weekend.

“The club came to me and asked me to pick somebody and it only took me a second to choose Ian Sharps to come and work with me,” McCarthy said.

“Our focus has been on getting the points but we work really well together, we have a similar philosophy and that’s why those two performances against Welling and Grimsby have been able to happen and we’ve spoke about getting the results and it’s worked and that’s probably most of our application.

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“People know us, we’re around the club, people know my work and I’ve been going to board meetings and giving advice on the academy so they’ve seen me do it for a couple of weeks and if I was fortunate enough to be given the honour of being manager of Chester Football Club then the first person I would ask would be Ian Sharps to see if he would come and do it with me.

“We won’t get carried away too much but actually we’ve had two really big performances and we have produced.”

IN PICTURES: Action from Chester's victory at Blundell Park

McCarthy has been with the Blues since January 2014 when Burr, under whom he played at Hucknall Town and Northwich Victoria, brought him to the club and combines coaching with his role as chief executive of the Chester FC Community Trust.

When the ex-Northern Ireland winger, who made over 500 appearances in a playing career than included spells with York City, Port Vale and Birmingham City, confirmed his interest in becoming manager he admitted he would need to win over those fans who viewed him as Burr’s right-hand man.

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He reverted to a 4-4-2 formation and the shape of the team in the wins over Welling and Grimsby has been far better, and McCarthy has been pleased his approach has earned praise from the players and supporters.

In pictures: Jon McCarthy's career in football

McCarthy said: “That’s what I felt like people would have to see if they were going to seriously consider me for the job.

“They would have to see some results because that is the ultimate thing but I think actually to see a change in play and a change in shape too. I did talk about that on the record so for people to see that is really pleasing.”