NEW Pickering Town boss Paul Marshall is eyeing at least a top-five finish in the Northern Counties East League premier division.

Having moved into the Recreation Ground hot-seat after Tony Hackworth stepped down from the job last week, the former Tadcaster Albion chief has already set high standards for his new charges.

Marshall spent seven years at the Brewers, securing the NCEL division one title and President’s Cup while making the club a fixture in the top echelons of the premier division.

Having played for the Pikes, Marshall said the professionalism of the club behind the scenes - outlined by chairman Keith Usher - had sold the job to him.

With the ambitious club having not hit expected heights in the last couple of years, Marshall is determined to bring success to Mill Lane - though he admitted it would be strange to be taking a new team back to Tadcaster, where he spent seven successful years.

“That is a long time at any club,” Marshall said as he looked forward to a new challenge.

“I am very proud of what I achieved there and, when you have got a win rate of 60 per cent, clubs are quite keen.

“There were several who wanted me but I spoke to Keith Usher and realised how professional the club was behind the scenes.

“I played there in the early 1980s for a year and I know all about the club.

“The club is structured to be in the top five, without a doubt, but I can look at 10 teams in the NCEL premier who would be saying the same thing.

“There is a good group of players at the club already and it is about needing a few additions.

“The key thing is managing players right. I haven’t got the biggest budget to work with but it is workable to finish in the top five.

“It is up to me and the players to give 100 per cent to Pickering Town.

“I want players to commit to playing for me and Pickering.

“If we get that, it is a starting point. If we don’t get that then people will be moved on. I want to finish as high as possible.”

Marshall was offered a position as a director at Tadcaster Albion after his tenure as boss came to an end but he said he still had ambitions on the touchline. He added: “I feel I have got another job in me.

“Pickering has always been quite close to my heart. There are great people there and I hope I can succeed. It will be strange to go back to Tadcaster. Seven years is a long time but this is going to be a great challenge.

“I am looking forward to it. Pickering is immaculate behind the scenes and it is going to be good.”