Maltby Main caretaker manager Louis Axcell warms to the task

Axcell was promoted up from assistant manager to the top job at Muglet Lane until the end of the season after the dismissal of Scott Mason last month. 

Former Hallam, Buxton and Dinnington Town player Axcell hung up his boots relatively early and loves the coaching side of the game.

And after working with the Maltby players last season and this, the chance of stepping up and trying to fire an under-performing team to better things was too good to turn down.

“I enjoy coaching and taking sessions and having a rapport with the lads,” said Axcell, whose Maltby team host Barton Town in the NCEL Premier Division tomorrow after a weather enforced break. “It's a bit different to being a manager but now I've agreed to do it I've got a little taste for it. I would carry on, 100 per cent.

“I'll be honest, when myself and Scott discussed the poor run of form and then I got the call from the chairman my first reaction was 'that's it, we've gone,' obviously assuming we'd go together.

“It was a bit of a surprise when I was asked to carry on but I spoke to Scott before accepting and he agreed with me it was an opportunity I couldn't really turn down. 

“I was quite disappointed for Scott because to get Maltby where they were over two seasons was quite an achievement really. We are still close friends.”

Axcell has had a mixed start so far. After beating Hemsworth in his opening match, Main were edged out 4-3 by league leaders Penistone Church and then went out of the League Cup to AFC Mansfield on penalties.

Last time out they were narrowly beaten again, going down 2-1 at home to Thackley.

“The results haven't fully gone our way but I feel like there has been a decent reaction from the lads,” added Louis. “There seems to be a positive attitude and they are trying their best. We just haven't had too much Lady Luck and a couple of tweaks need to be made but overall I'm relatively happy."

Three promotion places are up for grabs this season but after only one win from their last five, Main are 13th in the table.

“It would take something big to get into the top three,” added Axcell. “My aim is to get an established way of playing and do it in stages. The first is to get us in the top half where I think we should belong and then play it week by week. If we could finish in the top six then I would be over the moon from the position taking over.

“Anything can happen, we're not that far away.”