ATHERTON Collieries FC have responded to stinging criticisms of the club made by a rival non-league manager.

Ramsbottom United manager Vince Overson said that Atherton reminded him of "a deserted Western town" after his team won 4-1 at Alder House on Saturday.

But Collieries secretary Emil Anderson said that Overson's comments ignored the hard work that committee members had put in to running the club in the face of repeated vandalism.

Overson - a former Burnley and Stoke City defender - hit out at the quality of Atherton's pitch and ground after his team's North West Counties League First Division match at Alder House.

He said: "I have never been there before and I never want to go back again.

"The pitch was like a ploughed field, I was looking out for the cows going back on it.

"The ice cream van was belting out the theme tune from 'The good, the bad and the ugly', and that's exactly what it looked like, a deserted Western town."

But Anderson defended Collieries against Overson's comments.

He said: "Our ground is vandalised all the time, and it's Atherton kids who are doing it. It's a thankless task having to deal with it, and we are having to paper over the cracks to a degree.

"But I don't agree with the comments about a deserted Western town. I would like to know how many of those Vince Overson has been to. It sounds as though he has been watching too much television."

Collieries have had a tough season, using 67 players as they finished bottom of the North West Counties League First Division. Anderson said: "We only used 67 players, but I think I must have filled in registration forms for 100 during the season."

They have also had four points deducted for accidentally fielding a suspended player in a 1-1 draw against Mossley in February.

The club are unlikely to be relegated, because of non-league restructuring brought about by the introduction of a Conference Second Division North and South next season.

Collieries are hoping for some stability under manager Alan Lord, who returned for his third spell in charge in November after Joe Murty resigned due to work commitments.

Anderson said: ""We've had some good performances this season - we've drawn against top teams such as Mossley and Fleetwood, and we were in front three times at Clitheroe, who were top of the table at the time, before losing 4-3. But it has been tough.

"I think we're just glad that this season is over. But we've got some good players. If we can get some more in for next season, then we will not finish bottom."