Former Stowmarket Town manager Paul Musgrove is appointed as Cole Skuse’s assistant at Bury Town

New Bury Town manager Cole Skuse has appointed ex-Stowmarket Town boss Paul Musgrove as his assistant.

The Blues revealed the appointment of ex-Ipswich Town and Colchester United midfielder Skuse as their new permanent manager earlier today.

It will be Skuse’s first senior managerial role, following his retirement from the professional game this week, and the Bury chief has been quick to strengthen his backroom staff with the addition of a number two.

Musgrove stepped down as manager at Bury’s Pitching In Isthmian League North Division rivals Stowmarket back in January, having led the Old Gold & Blacks to the play-offs in the club’s first-ever season at Step 4 in 2021/22.

After initially joining Stow as a player during their Thurlow Nunn League First Division North title-winning season in 2016/17, the ex-Walsham-le-Willows player was then appointed as then manager Rick Andrews’ assistant in the summer of 2017.

The management duo continued Stowmarket’s upward trajectory, with a Thurlow Nunn League record unbeaten run of 39 games, which led to promotion to Step 4, and the Isthmian League, for the first time in the club’s history in 2021.

After Andrews walked away in November 2020, Musgrove stepped up as manager and guided Stow to the play-offs in their debut season in the North Division, finishing fourth before losing 2-1 to Brentwood Town in the play-off semi-finals.

Bury Town chairman Russell Ward said of Musgrove’s arrival: "I am delighted that Muzzy is joining the club and he will be a great addition for us.

“He has great respect in the local football scene and I know his hard work will pay off for us in the long run and I am sure that Cole and him will be an excellent team.

“I know that they have had meetings already and are hard at work with planning for the new season.”