MICKY Moore expects his new Barrow AFC assistant manager to be announced in the next couple of days.

Moore has been working on his own since temporary back-room staff member Marcus Bignot took up the reins at National League rivals Chester almost four weeks ago.

That was on the same day Moore himself was announced as having signed a permanent deal to lead the Bluebirds, having been operating on a caretaker basis since the departure of Paul Cox in late August.

Moore, Cox’s former assistant, does have physio Matt Butterfield and a goalkeeping coach in place – though head of football operations Paul Ogden, who was responsible for much of the scouting and player recruitment work, left last week.

A new assistant manager was highlighted as one of his key tasks after taking over the role on a contract until the end of the 2019/20 season, but a spate of injuries in the immediate aftermath of his appointment led to delays.

But Moore intends that a new man will be in the dug-out alongside him for Sunday’s FA Cup fourth qualifying round tie at Shaw Lane, with an announcement expected today or tomorrow.

“The new assistant will be appointed before Sunday’s game – Thursday or Friday, that should be done and dusted,” said Moore.

“I know who it is, and we just need to dot the i’s and cross the t’s with the powers that be.”

With a deal for the new assistant on the brink of being done, Moore also expressed his pleasure at the contract extension agreed with goalkeeper Joel Dixon.

The keeper, who returned from a 10-month lay-off to start at Sutton United last month, has penned a deal until the end of this season, with the option for another year.

Moore said: “We wanted to extend Joel’s contract. He’s signed until the end of the season and we have two number ones.

“I don’t see Joel as the number one and I don’t see Stuart Moore as the number one – we’ve got two very good young goalkeepers who are fighting it out.

“Stuart has done well; let’s not forget the great games he’s had for us. And since Joel has come back, Joel has done really well.

“It’s one position where we are very healthy, and where we have genuine competition, which can only be good for us.”