Atherstone Town appoint former coaches Ross Innes and Adam Davies as new joint managers to complete 'unfinished business'

Atherstone Town have gone back for their future in naming coaches Ross Innes and Adam Davies as joint managers to deliver "unfinished business".

The club – effectively managerless since Scott Rickards and Mike Fowler walked away from Sheepy Road after mindless fans were accused of making racially abusive comments to Stafford Town keeper Samuel Amedu in last month's league game – said the appointments are with "immediate effect".

The pair were in charge last night as Adders shook off their FA Vase disappointment and returned to winning ways in the BCFA Midweek Challenge Cup – this time a quarter final result going in their favour.

For Innes and Davies it will like they've never been away as they joined the Adders pre-season in June last year under the stewardship of former boss Ivor Green. When he left at the end of September, they departed too.

But club captain Kyle Baxter explained returning to the Mark Webster Community Stadium "with the current situation we're in, we felt it was best for them to come back".

Following the dramatic exit of Rickards and Fowler, the players had a clear-the-air meeting and felt approaching Innes and Davies – both former Adders' players – was the right thing to do "as they started the season with us and nothing drastically needed to change".

In a statement, Baxter added: "They know most if not all the lads.

"Now we cannot wait to push on and achieve what we know we are capable of with their guidance."

The two UEFA B coaches both spoke positively of what lay in store for the Adders between now and the end of the season – with 16 games still to play in the Midland Football League Division One and promotion, if not the title, more than a distinct possibility.

Davies said: "We are looking forward to the challenges ahead with so many games and so much to play for.

"There is an incredibly talented bunch of players here with a thirst for success, fantastic local support & a team of unbelievably hard working volunteers'

Innes added 'This is a fantastic club and we are excited to continue working with the lads we started the season with.

"There is unfinished business here and we are dealing with a hugely talented group.

"We know all too well what they are capable of with the quality they have."

Both acknowledged the work of Ivor Green who initially brought them to the club and the achievements of both Scott Rickards and Mike Fowler before adding: "This is about these lads continuing to do what they have done for so long – an entertaining brand of football and a hard work-first attitude."