GARRY Flitcroft has taken his first step on the managerial ladder with struggling Unibond Premier Division bottom club Leigh Genesis.

Bolton-born Flitcroft, who starred in midfield for Manchester City, Blackburn Rovers and Sheffield Wednesday, before his career was cut short by a persistent knee injury three years ago, was yesterday unveiled as the new manager at the crisis club.

Genesis were 10 points adrift of safety with just nine matches of the season remaining before last night’s confidence-boosting goalless draw at Frickley Athletic, but Flitcroft was upbeat that Genesis could avoid the drop to the Unibond Division One North now that they will lose their nomads tag with their home games secured at Leigh Sports Village.

“It is going to be tough but we have games that are winnable and we have four home games,” said the 36-year-old, who will have former City midfielder Mike Quigley as his assistant.

“We have secured our home games which is great news for the fans who have travelled all over the North West and now will have a home ground where they know they will be for the next few seasons. Now we need to get it right for them on the pitch.

“We are looking at six wins out of nine and there may be teams who drop out at the end of the season.”

Centre-halves Jon Smith from Clitheroe and Raf Evans from Rochdale made impressive debuts last night when Genesis were the better team and created enough good chances to have won, while Flitcroft is desperate to bring in at least two strikers before tomorrow’s transfer deadline.

Genesis was taken over last year by Bolton businessman Dominic Speakman, but he pulled the plug midway through the season and the club have since limped along with the players and management team continuing without wages.

Flitcroft, who declined to comment on how the club would be funded, possibly because of a complex ownership situation, admitted he hoped it was a stepping stone to managing at a higher level and that he would do the job without pay.

“I was approached to play here but I thought maybe it is somewhere I could manage,” he added. “The stadium here is different class and that drew me here as well.

“Recently I have missed being out of football and now this chance has come. I have watched Leigh now for the last eight weeks and just fancied it.

“It is my first job as manager and I am going to fast track my coaching badges this summer.

“I have played under a lot of managers and have learned a lot off them, but I will do it my way. I will probably bring some coaches in, although former manager Lee Merricks is going to be kept involved as he has done great with what he has had.