BARRIE Stimpson will be Lancaster City's answer to Phil Thompson this month - and boss Tony Hesketh believes he can take the team to the top of league.
Like Thompson, Stimpson has served his club as a player and coach, and now finds himself in the hot-seat while the boss finds himself in hospital.
Hesketh didn't look like a man in need of a hip operation as he jigged along the touchline to celebrate City's 94th minute equaliser against Barrow on Tuesday night, but he will be away for at least three weeks and won't be able to drive for some weeks afterwards.
But he has every confidence in his right hand man to ensure the team close the gap on leaders Burton Albion.
"It isn't an ideal situation for us," he said after Tuesday night's game: "But Liverpool haven't struggled without Gerald Houllier - until recently."
Stimpson's managerial career starts on Saturday at Gateshead, a cub in dire financial straits after their main sponsors pulled out.
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