Glasshoughton Welfare's General Secretary and Director of Football has left Leeds Road to take charge of West Auckland Town.

Although Ray Gowan's departure from the KoolSport NCEL Division One basement side was swift, he has left Glasshoughton with no animosity.

In fact, the club say they are truly grateful at the way he has turned things round off-the-field during his time there.

His first game in charge of West Auckland saw them lose 5-0 at home to Shildon in the Northern League, prompting him to say that he has probably a harder job to do than Phil Riding does as manager of Glasshoughton.

Frank MacLachlan, the former secretary of Pontefract Collieries, has been appointed as Welfare's General Secretary with immediate effect.