APPLICATIONS have been pouring in to the Barton Stadium but Winsford United have not yet found a replacement for manager Joe Gibiliru.
Gibiliru was relieved of his duties after a hastily arranged meeting last week, involving chairman Mark Loveless and secretary Bob Astles.
The Blues’ new boss will be faced by a reduced budget after cuts were made in the aftermath of Winsford’s disappointing Vodkat Premier season.
Gibiliru, who had previously promised to leave the club after two years in charge of first-team affairs, had steered United to safety after a dismal run, including just two wins in 2009, took the club to the brink of relegation.
Loveless revealed that although he had received many applications, he was in no position to make a final decision.
He said: “We are not ready to make an appointment at the moment. We are going through all the applications and hopefully we will be ready to make an announcement by the end of next week.”
Speaking after the decision to let him go, Gibiliru told the Chronicle he was “disappointed” about the way the situation was handled but gave all at the Barton Stadium some advice.
He said: “I am unhappy about the way it was done but these things happen in football.
“I did what I had to do and made sure the club survived.
“I want to say thanks to the fans and the players for everything but what I will say is that everyone needs to be United!
“The board and the supporters need to work together, forget about what has happened in the past and look forward.
“They need to get away from the dinosaur years when they won this and that and be as one. Mark was disappointed that he was outvoted but what’s done is done and to be fair I had planned to resign anyway so I am not too disappointed.”
Gibiliru does not have any firm plans for the future but would not rule out an immediate return to football.
“You never know in football but I think I will have a few weeks holiday and then look and see what is about,” he added.
