WITTON Albion will have a short-list ready - maybe even a manager appointed - by the weekend.

Chairman Mike Worthington has changed his mind. After saying last week he was willing to wait up to eight weeks to get the right man, he has opted to treat the vacancy created by the sacking of John Davison as urgent.

As of Monday, Albion had seven written applications and 10 verbal and will produce a shortlist perhaps as early as tomorrow.

Worthington said: 'By the weekend we will have a very good idea as to who the new manager will be. I don't want to be in no-man's land for any longer than necessary.'

Worthington would not be drawn on names but the non-league rumour mill links Dave Cooke, ex-Nantwich boss and assistant to Jimmy Quinn both at Northwich Vics and Shrewsbury, with the job. Quinn himself is apparently an applicant at Wey-mouth.

Tommy Lawson, ex-Congleton Town and now at Prescot Cables, is another possibility but Wincham-based former Albion midfielder Nigel Deeley, a part-time coach at Manchester City and Leek, is not an applicant.

Meanwhile, captain Brian Pritchard will remain in charge for Saturday's home game against bottom club Gateshead.

Witton are at home again on Monday against Premier Division leaders Workington in the League Cup second round (7.45pm).

It will be Pritchard's last match - or the new manager's first game - in charge.