Silsden have confirmed caretaker boss Chris Reape as their new manager.

Reape has landed the job on a permanent basis after improving results, despite the club suffering a player exodus.

The former Cross Hills player and manager is delighted to get the nod, having stepped into the breach since Paul Schofield resigned just over six weeks ago.

Reape said: “I’m looking forward to it. It’s a challenge but the club want to go in the right direction.

“When I came in, the club were at sixes and sevens, with players leaving left, right and centre.

“It’s been a difficult period but we’ve kept talking with the lads and working with them and things are starting to sink in.”

Reape, who will have Mick Tillotson as his assistant, has steadied the Cobbydalers ship after a run of one win in ten games.

The Cougar Park-based side have since won four of their last six games, including coming from 2-0 down in the County Cup to thrash Glasshoughton 5-2 and then becoming the first side to beat second-placed Congleton in the league last Saturday.

That 1-0 victory was also Silsden’s first clean sheet of the campaign.

Reape added: “There is a long, long way to go and we are first looking at stability and survival in this division.

“But I have been over the moon with how the players have reacted. Against Congleton our workrate and performance was excellent. Our problem has been conceding sloppy goals but we showed real character to come back against Glasshoughton when in weeks gone by we might have crumbled.”

The 41-year-old, who was once an apprentice at Bradford City, works with Oldham Athletic’s centre of excellence youngsters and is currently in training for his UEFA A coaching badge.

He has also been involved with the League One side’s youth team but Reape – who took Cross Hills from the bottom to the First Division in the West Lancashire League – said: “If I’m truthful, I’ve missed the buzz of senior football.”

Silsden’s hopes of a promotion bid this season have been blighted by the loss of several players.

James Nettleton and Kevin Ryan followed former Silsden team-mate Aaron Hollindrake to UniBond Premier side Ossett Town.

Matt Morgan made the switch to Thackley when his dad Dave – who was assistant at Silsden – got the manager’s job at Dennyfield, with Sean Airey joining them.

And several others who were drafted in from outside the Keighley area have not lasted.

Chairman Sean McNulty has been impressed with the way Reape – who is from Cross Hills – has stepped up to the plate against such a backdrop of upheaval.

He said: “He has come in at a very difficult time with enthusiasm and a whole range of new ideas, not just for the first team but the club as a whole.”