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The appointment of Dolby, a 35-year-old PE teacher at Burton’s de Ferrers School, into a fronting roll with Rovers following the shock axing of former supremo Frank Northwood has already been criticised in some quarters – notably from his predecessor who said: “Steve will find it difficult to tell people they’re not good enough.”

But Dolby responded: “That won’t be a problem for me – it’s just that Frank dealt with that side of things when he was boss and he had enough of a nasty streak for both of us.

“My style will be different to Frank’s, but the players can be sure that if they’re not playing well enough for Gresley Rovers they won’t be in the team.”

Dolby has yet to sort out his future with Rovers, but, at the players’ insistence, has the option of continuing as manager next season and said: “I’ve not spoken to the chairman yet, but it’s looking quite likely that I’ll accept the job – it’s just a matter of sorting out the details.”

Dolby relishes the prospect of leading the club into the Beazer Homes League – subject to their application for promotion being successful at the third time – and says: “While Frank might be a hard act to follow hopefully it’s going to be a completely new situation. We are going to have to start again and find our feet.

“I believe that the present squad would not find that difficult but we’ll be aiming for a top six place at the first attempt and that will mean bringing in players.

“I’m already watching players and looking around with next season in mind with a view to finding three or four new faces with Southern League experience.

“That won’t be easy, but when you look at the money clubs like Solihull and Hednesford have spent it shows what you’re up against. But I believe Gresley is the kind of club that players want to join – Peter Gocan was one who rang us to say he’d like to come but we couldn’t afford him at the time and we referred him to Burton Albion.