ANDY GRIMSHAW has completed his first week as manager of Ramsbottom United saying: "Crisis, what crisis?"

The former Colne Dynamoes man has taken over at the Riverside in the wake of four resignations from backroom staff in the past fortnight.

Secretary John Maher, Commercial Manager Graham Dobson and groundsman Roger Davies all resigned after a fall-out with chairman Harry Williams and manager MIke Kelly followed a week later because of a poor start to the season by the NWCL first division club.

But Grimshaw - who saw his side draw 1-1 at home to St Helens in his first game in charge, said the club was going to be just fine.

"There hasn't been any upheaval at Ramsbottom United," he said. "Harry Williams hasn't commented on the situation because he wants to keep it inside the club.

"I have got a lot of time for John Maher, he would be an asset to any club. Graham Dobson is another fabulous bloke, I got on very well with him. They'll be sadly missed but the club has to go on."

Joining Grimshaw, who has never managed a club before, is former Haslingden man Jimmy Clarke and Chris Burke.

"I like to see me and Jimmy as joint managers," said Grimshaw. "I will probably have the ultimate decision but on some things I want him to have as much of a view.

"Chris Burke will be assisting us on some football matters but mostly I want him to watch other games and look at players."

Grimshaw spent last season as assistant manager to Jim McCluskie at Rossendale United but returning to Ramsbottom - where he was a player before moving to Dark Lane - in the summer.

It didn't work out for Grimshaw at Rossendale, but he is not bitter.

"I learned a lot from Jim McCluskie last year and I respect that," he said. "I'm glad I did it. It gave me confidence which I think I was lacking and that's strange because I was never like that on the pitch or in the changing rooms.

"I gave Rossendale a lot of time and I have a lot of feeling for the club, when I played there early in my career I lived virtually next door to the ground and I still live in Rossendale.

"Jim and I just didn't gel together which is strange because we have known each other for 15 or 16 years."

Grimshaw suffered a recurrence of a long-term knee problem last week during the 4-0 over Warrington and, at 38, sees his future on the sidelines.

"I might need to play some times but it will be rare. I don't want to be good enough to get into the side. I don't want to be taking the place of a 20-year-old.

"I'm not going to rip the side apart, though.

"I want there to be a lot more discipline at the club, I want it to be run more professionally. I understand that it is a North West Counties team not a UniBond Premier but I do want it to be more professional, more organised so all the lads need to do is come and play football, everything else will be taken care of.

"Let's get the side back up there, off the bottom, let's get the club playing as I want it to play, reach a reasonable position in the league and then next year win the league.

"But let's not run before we can walk. We have lost a few this season so we are backtracking but three or four wins and we could be right back up there. I'm optimistic."