MICHAEL Barton has been unveiled as the new manager of Morda United.

The Weston Road club reformed after several years in the wilderness during the summer and are currently competing in the Salop Leisure League.

Barton was in the dug out for the club’s clash at Telford Amateurs on Saturday with goals from Luke Barry and Nick Crouch earning the border side a point in a 2-2 draw.

More than 100 spectators watched Barton’s first game in charge.

However the league, along with the rest of non-elite sport in England, will now enter hiatus following confirmation England would enter its third lockdown in less than a year in a bid to curb an increase in coronavirus cases.

Barton admitted the Welsh lockdowns over the past few months had led to his departure from Ardal North East League side Four Crosses.

He said: “With everything happening in Wales I just lost all enthusiasm for the job.

“Clubs have been training for months and we still had no sign of playing and the communication from the Football Association of Wales (FAW) to clubs has been poor from the very start of the pandemic.”

Barton said the job at Morda was too good to turn down and looked forward to building the club which was among the top clubs in the region during the 1990s before losing their place in the Mid Wales League.

He said: “The Morda job came up as a great project to build club from bottom.

“We have a new committee in place and a new management team in place to take the club forward.”

Meanwhile Morda club officials hailed the arrival of the Oswestry based manager who has a track record of success in Wales having previously managed Guilsfield, Welshpool Town and Berriew prior to his spell at Four Crosses.

A club spokesman said: “We are really pleased to be able to attract a manager with the track record of Mike’s to the club and we are excited to see what the future of the club holds.”

The club has also confirmed Matt Williams is the new club chairman following a weekend committee meeting.

A spokesman said: “The committee are pleased to announce that Matt Williams has accepted the role as chairman.

“Matt is a very knowledgeable football man he will be a great asset to the football club.”

Meanwhile the club has signed ex Newtown player Andy Webb while brothers Xavier and Ollie Clarke have joined from MMP-NL Mid Wales League East side Llansantffraid.