DANNY Ellis says his Guiseley side is targeting the play-offs, adding he is buzzing to take charge of his first game this weekend.

The Lions appointed Ellis, who played in the Guiseley defence for nine years, as their new manager in May.

He is now ready to pick his first team for Guiseley’s home clash with Marine in the Northern Premier League this Saturday (3pm kick-off).

Ellis says he is setting his side realistic targets as they look to bounce back at the first time of asking following relegation from the Vanarama National League structure last season.

 

He is aiming for a play-off finish come next May as he concedes his Guiseley side will be competing against sides in the same division with former Premier League players in charge. These include South Shields, who are managed by former Sunderland and England striker Kevin Phillips.

Ellis said: “I’m really looking forward to it, I can’t wait. I’m absolutely buzzing for the new season.

“The aim is to win as many games as we can. We’re aiming to finish in the play-offs.

We would obviously like to win the league, but teams have been together for a lot longer than we have. They have established themselves. We’re a new group

“We would love to win the league, but there are teams like South Shields who are full-time and have Kevin Phillips in charge. He will draw players in.

“We will take it game by game. I’ll be setting expectations for the players.

“When I took over around the place was a bit deflated. The finish to last season with the relegation was quite hard to take.

“The weather is going to be a scorcher on Saturday, but it will be the same for both teams.

“Pre-season just seems to have been a long time. We’re starting later than any other teams. We have had an extra week to prepare than anyone else.”

Guiseley’s league curtain-raiser this Saturday will be followed by a trip to Morpeth Town on Tuesday, August 16 (7.45pm).

Ellis talked about his pride in taking charge at Nethermoor and is relishing the chance to re-build the club following their relegation.

He will be joined in the Guiseley dugout by former Silsden boss, of six years, Danny Forrest, who is also a former Lion himself. The pair replace caretaker managers Steve Kittrick and Luke Potter who left the club in May, the day before the new pair took over.

Ellis made 700 appearances in his playing career and has a vast knowledge of the Northern Premier Division having won it as a player with Guiseley in 2010 and Farsley in 2019.

Ellis said: “I’m immensely proud. Becoming the manager of Guiseley is something that I thought one day might happen. I’m delighted with it.

“I love the club and have been working in the academy for such a long time. I’m totally new to it (management). I’m relishing it.

“Marine have come up and they have the momentum from last season. We have done our homework on them.

“It’s going to be a very tough game. We are looking fine ahead of the game, just a few little niggles.”

Guiseley completed their pre-season programme with a 1-0 home victory over Sky Bet League One side Fleetwood Town Under-23s last Saturday.