SUPERMARINE caretaker boss Mark Collier has admitted that he would like to take the job full-time after guiding the club to their first victory in six weeks.
Collier did his employment prospects no harm as Marine began life after Tommy Saunders with a 2-1 home triumph over Stourport Swifts on Saturday.
Saunders called an end to his 55-day reign on Thursday, leaving the Marine committee searching for a seventh manager in two and a half years.
Chairman Steve Moore and his board are due to meet with Collier this evening to discuss the prospect of handing him the job until the end of the season and maybe beyond depending on how he fares in Marine's seven remaining Western Division games.
"I will be meeting with Steve Moore and the committee on Monday night," said Collier.
"This is a good opportunity for me. "There's a good bunch of lads here.
"I came in and did some coaching at the end of Ray Baverstock's turn and I've carried it on with Tommy and I've had a good response.
"We'll just have to wait to see what they (the committee) say."
"Ray did a very good job here but a lot of other experienced managers have been here and not done that well so if the opportunity arises for somebody new, whether that be me or someone else, then good luck to them."
Collier watched his inherited troops grind out a spirited victory against 10-man Stourport in a match that exploded into life after 35 uneventful minutes.
Dave Toomey's low cross was turned in first time by the in-step of Alan Young via keeper Ryan Price and the far post. Stourport's prospects were made doubly difficult three minutes later when Richard Kavanagh was sent off for violent conduct.
Marine skipper Giles Harris produced a masterclass from the Robbie Savage school of antagonism, holding on the ball longer than necessary after conceding a free-kick.
The ploy wound up Kavanagh enough for him to plant a half-hearted head-butt on Harris.
The Stourport midfielder was immediately dismissed, while Harris received a yellow for his part in the incident.
Any hopes of a second-half canter for Marine were dashed when the visitors levelled contentiously on 55 minutes.
Referee Graham Scott awarded a penalty after Brian Small's cross struck the arm of James Blastland.
Tom King produced a fine stop from Richard Ball's initial spot-kick but Scott ordered a retake, judging that the Marine keeper had strayed from his line.
King connected with Ball's second effort too, but the strike had sufficient power to creep in.
But Marine ended their win drought just after the hour mark as Toomey raced clear down the right wing and drove the ball across the face of goal for Justin Miller to tap home from close range.
The win quashes any lingering fears Marine had of being sucked into another relegation scrap.
A happy Collier said: "We've got a good spirit and some good players.
"Confidence is a bit low but hopefully the win will have done them good.
"We played well in the first half and should have been in front by more.
"When they got the penalty doubts started creeping in and I was thinking here we go again. But we got our rewards in the end."
SUPERMARINE: King, Copp, Futcher, Bennett, Blastland, Matthews, Toomey, Harris, J Carter, Miller, Young.
Subs: Slattery, Gilevicz, S Carter, Edwards.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article