"We've made a formal application to the Lancashire League, and we're cracking on with that, with the emphasis being on recruiting promising young players, with a view to becoming potential first team players of the future by giving young players of East Lancashire every opportunity to join the club. The UniBond league has gone to five substitutes next season, of which you can choose three, to fall in line with other leagues. It increases the opportunity to feed youngsters into the first team set up. Lee will manage the team, and it will be run as close to the first team as possible with Neil and Pete. Lee has already identified players he wants in the team, but I'm sure there will be opportunities before next season to join."

Blues joint first team manager Neil Reynolds added -"Every club has a reserve team, and we've lost players due to the unavailability of games, and we don't want to be lending out players to every club, particularly lads coming back from injury. It's a big plus as Lee knows the club, and his track record speaks for itself, both with the team and getting involved with the social side of the club."