NEW Ramsbottom United boss Jon Robinson is surprised his phone hasn’t exploded after a busy first two days in the job.

The Rams were stunned on Saturday morning when joint managers Bernard Morley and Anthony Johnson resigned from the club, along with coach Glenn Moses, after six years in charge.

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The trio have taken up the same positions at Class of 92-owned Salford City, an opportunity Robinson admits was too good to turn down.

It took the Evo-Stik League Premier Division side less than an hour to appoint a replacement, with Robinson named player-manager.

He has scored 104 goals in 193 games for the club, but his responsibilities will now lie in the dugout as he tries to get the Rams back on track, having suffered five defeats in a row.

“I had spoken about management before but I was on the fence really,” said Robinson. “But when you are asked you know whether it is right or not, and as soon as I was asked I just knew I wanted to do it.

“I know the club inside out and I know everyone involved with the club, including all the players that are here.

“I’m surprised my phone hasn’t exploded. It’s the stuff that you don’t realise managers do, like speaking to the fans’ groups, speaking to the chairman and the secretaries, getting to grips with the fixtures and organising plans around it.”

Rammy saw their league fixture at Curzon Ashton postponed on Saturday, so Robinson will take charge for the first time on Saturday when Trafford, who are 23rd in the league, visit the Harry Williams Riverside Stadium.

A run of 12 wins in 14 games during October and November had left the Rams well placed, but their recent poor form has seen them drop to 14th, something Robinson is determined to put right.

“It was a blessing in disguise (having Curzon Ashton called off),” he said.

“Having had the news that morning it would have been very difficult for everyone involved to go out and play.

“We need to get back to winning ways. Losing can bring bad habits and you get stuck in a rut. There are going to be changes but I don’t see any reason why we can’t get back up towards the play-offs, which is where we were a month or two ago.”

Robinson was brought to the club early on in Johnson and Morley’s reign, and he doesn’t begrudge them the move to Salford City, who are currently the division below the Rams.

He has been a prolific goalscorer since he joined the club, but admits his time on the pitch may be reduced as he gets to grips with life in the dugout.

“It’s a big opportunity for them,” he said of the Salford move.

“The set up there is going to be massive very soon, you can’t turn that down.

“I’ll continue playing for now but I want to be in the dugout as much as I can.

“I’ve always thought it difficult to combine the two roles, so we will see how it goes, but my main priority now is to spend as much time in the dugout as I can.”