KNUTSFORD’S vacancy for a first-team manager will be filled by not one, but two names familiar to the club’s supporters.

Jordan Gunter and Jamie Mottershead were unveiled as successors on Monday to Scott Dignan, who resigned last month after steering the side to a historic double.

“It’s the beginning of a new era,” said chairman Jimmy Evans.

“But they were outstanding candidates from the moment they told me of their interest.”

Gunter guided Knutsford A to a successful defence of their Cheshire League Reserves Division title last season.

He had taken over from Mottershead after serving as assistant when they took the crown for the first time the previous campaign.

Evans added: “They are both former Knutsford players and highly-successful A team managers in their own right.

“They’re known already, and respected too, by the club and our players which makes them the ideal men to construct a side that will play a brand of football our fans like to watch.”

Knutsford’s first-team won a fourth Cheshire League Premier Division title in seven years last time out – a second with Dignan at the helm.

They also prevailed in the Cheshire FA Amateur Cup final, beating Vauxhall Motors after extra time.

Evans told the Guardian that Paul Riley, a close friend of Dignan who joined the management team last season from Linotype, had not applied for the role.

The players are due at Manchester Road for a first pre-season training session on Wednesday, July 4, from 6.30pm.

A friendly against 1874 Northwich follows a fortnight later.