DAVE McNabb will take charge of Bury for the first time tonight as the Shakers face FC Isle of Man at Gigg Lane.

The former Macclesfield and Rylands boss was appointed as the successor to Andy Welsh on Monday night, ending a nine-day search for a new boss.

McNabb enjoyed great success with Rylands, guiding the Warrington club to three promotions and four trophies in four years.

After a year in charge at Macclesfield he took over at Bootle, helping guide them away from the relegation zone and into the top 10 of the Northern Premier League West.

Football board chair Marcel de Matas said the club was keen to make a speedy appointment to preserve the momentum gained since Welsh’s departure.

He said: “Getting the right appointment was key and we feel we have done that by bringing Dave and his team into the club. His pedigree speaks volumes, with a high win percentage, the creation of high-scoring teams and multiple promotions and trophies gained in what is a very competitive environment.

“We are sure this move is one that will excite supporters and enables the club to be in a position to keep up the winning habit for the rest of this season and beyond.”

McNabb says he is “excited” about the challenge of taking Bury out of Step Five and beyond and inherits a side currently sitting third in the table after playing 14 games.

“It is everything about the size of the football club,” he said. “We are all aware of the history and it is a Football League club and it has been regenerated as well, so there is a little bit more passion and intrigue about what the future holds.

“Gigg Lane, the fans, and everything else, I just think it is a brilliant opportunity for myself.”

‘Starting from scratch’ at Rylands in 2018/19, McNab led the Warrington side to unprecedented success between 2018 and 2022.

“It was an amazing ride,” he said. “First year we won the league and the Champions Cup. Second year we played 28 games when the season was cut short for Covid, we were second.

“The next year started late, again with Covid, and we were second again before it was curtailed again.

“We went through the FA Vase, round after round, and through Covid it was a difficult period, but we were fortunate enough to get to Wembley and go on to win it, which was probably one of the best days of my career.

“Then we got the news that we were going to be promoted, based on the points-per-game over the two Covid seasons, so it was straight into the Northern Premier League West, won the league at the first time of asking.

“It was a rollercoaster last day but we managed to win it with a draw at home.”

McNabb is joined by his assistant, Tim Lees, and having negotiated the North West Counties League before, he hopes his experience can benefit the Shakers as they look to push back up the football pyramid.

“We are always learning, looking to pick up new knowledge and skills, and this is just the start of the journey,” he said.

“Last five years we have had some good ups and a few downs as well. Experience has carried on through all those things and hopefully that will stand me in good stead.

“It is exciting and if you can’t be excited by that type of challenge then it is probably not the right place for you.

“I have experienced big crowds before – at Wembley and particularly Macclesfield – but I am looking forward to Tuesday and hearing the Bury faithful singing and getting behind the team.”