Norton’s new manager Adam Rundle says that he probably won’t be playing much in the new season.

Rundle, who had a pro career at Darlington, Carlisle, Rochdale and Mansfield, was appointed manager at Norton following the departure of Andy Campbell when they had clinched promotion and the Ernest Armstrong Cup. He’d been playing for Shildon in the Northern League.

“Moving into management is something that I’ve always wanted to do,” he said. “I’ve got my coaching badges, and I thought that a move into management might happen three or four years down the line.

“But when the chance of the Norton job came up, I thought I would apply for it, because I don’t know for certain whether a suitable job will come along on three or four years’ time. Whether it works out or not, at least I’ll have given it a go. I know that I’m going to learn an awful lot in a short space of time.”

With that steep learning curve in mind, Rundle has appointed Peter Mulcaster as his assistant. Mulcaster was manager of Norton thirty years ago with Alex Smith as his assistant, and his last job in the league was at Crook last season.

“I needed somebody alongside me who has got experience of the Northern League,” said Rundle.

“The players I know whom I’ve asked to come and play for us will cost quite a bit of money, and they’re not within the budget, so Peter is ideal for players who could be within the budget. He knows the scene, and the players to bring in.

“He’ll keep me on the straight and narrow, and we’ll share ideas about how to approach things. Hopefully we’ll make a good combination.”

It seems unlikely that Rundle will be playing a key role on the field, especially in a very competitive league. “I want to be a manager first and foremost, I only intend playing in an emergency or coming on as a sub in games. It’s difficult being a player-manager in this league.

“It also depends on the number of players that we have, because some have gone to West Auckland. In that respect, the job has ended up being bigger than I thought. I might need at least eight players, losing those players has been a kick in the teeth.

“We’re working hard to bring players in. Since I took over, it’s been non stop. If we can get a decent squad together and with the coaching ideas I’ve got, then we’ll be ok.”