PROGRESS in the FA Cup would provide a welcome tonic for Clitheroe after the club sacked their management team last weekend and then slipped to a second successive defeat at Salford in midweek.

Standing in their way tomorrow, however, will be former Shawbridge favourite Paul Mullin who has now taken his goalscoring talents to Radcliffe Borough.

Mullin left Clitheroe in the summer after finishing as the club's second top scorer last season.

And after an up-and-down start to his career in the UniBond League he is desperate to open his account for First Division Borough - which could spell bad news for the Blues.

"I would love to just get one goal to be honest," admitted Mullin. "It would be ironic if it came against Clitheroe but I would bite your hand off for one."

Mullin hasn't enjoyed much success in the Cup and victory in tomorrow's first qualifying round tie at Stainton Park, where Borough will start as favourites, would represent the furthest he has gone.

"I have never got past this stage so it would be special to do it against Clitheroe," he admitted.

Radcliffe manager Kevin Glendon will be looking to the 24-year-old to provide some inside knowledge, although Mullin admits he may not be of too much help.

"I watched Clitheroe in pre-season and they had a lot of new players. The team has changed although I do know a few of the lads," he said.

Mullin is looking forward to renewing those acquaintances but won't be meeting up again with Denis Underwood and Gary Butcher who were relieved of their management duties after four years in charge following last Saturday's 1-0 reverse at Glossop. "It came as a bit of a shock. They have done well for Clitheroe and I enjoyed playing for them," added Mullin who nevertheless felt it was time to look for pastures new this season.

He added: "I had been at Clitheroe for two-and-half years and enjoyed it but it was time for a change and I wanted to see how high I could play."

Borough snapped him up on a one-year contract as they look to bounce back from relegation from the Premier Division last season.

And manager Glendon is confident Mullin will come good and soon claim a regular place in the starting line-up after showing what he is capable of with an impressive pre-season.

The player is equally optimistic about the future once he adapts fully to his new surroundings.

"At the start of the season results weren't going too well and I just wasn't scoring.

"I have just got to bide my time. It's a cracking set-up and things will get round for me," added Mullin, who came off the bench as mid-table Borough lost 4-3 to Witton Albion in the UniBond Challenge Cup on Tuesday night.

"It's a lot quicker and a lot more physical so it has taken me a few more weeks to adjust. We have got some players who were in the League and some good young lads and it's a good mix.

"I am enjoying it a lot, even if it hasn't worked out as well as I was hoping so far."

The same could be said of Clitheroe who are off the early pace in the North West Trains League and now without a manager.

Existing backroom staff are expected to take the side again tomorrow before the club moves towards a permanent appointment.

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