The new Eccleshill United manager is counting down the days until he can get started on the top job at his former club.

Mick Watson was a United player last time he was at Plumpton Park but he takes up the role of first-team boss on his return.

He will be assisted by former Bradford City youngster Andy Patterson, who was running the under-19s side last season.

"We can't wait, to be honest, and it is very exciting," said Watson, who met with the players on Tuesday for the first time since being appointed.

"I hope we can restore the values that were here when I was a player. We want committed players and everyone connected to the club to be proud of the team. We are delighted to be given this chance at a club both Patti' and myself know well.

"I enjoyed my time here as a player. I then moved on to Thackley and the manager's job with the reserves but the reserves division in the Northern Counties East League was scrapped.

"That left us looking for a league to play in and when we couldn't get into the one we wanted we ended up running our team under the banner of Westwood. For lots of different reasons it didn't really work out - for Thackley, Westwood as a club or any of the players."

Watson revealed that Tyersal then rang him and asked if he would go to manage them in the West Riding County Amateur League.

He said: "I was very pleased to go there and do the job. I was only there a year but this was such an opportunity.

"I put in for it and Patti', who had played for me when I was at Thackley and was still a registered player and Academy manager here at Eccleshill, decided to join my bid and will be the best assistant I could have.

"He has played at a higher level than me after his years in the pro game and brings a lot of knowledge with him, despite being only mid-20s. We get on like a house on fire, always have, and have similar ideas about how the game should be played and what is expected of the players.

"We are excited by the challenge, a bit giddy really, and are very keen to succeed. If we don't it will not be for the lack of trying."