Better known as "Curly", O'Callaghan has switched roles and become reunited with former goalkeeper Paul Brassington, who will again act as his assistant.

The pair were together at Midland Combination level, with Southam United, Nuneaton Griff and Massey Ferguson, and know the Coventry area inside out.

Mason himself had stepped up from the No. 2 job at Byfield Road when Phil Lines moved to Brackley and went on to win the UCL title with the Reds before stepping up to Southern League level.

The more outward-going O'Callaghan will have to operate within a limited budget in the Midlands Division, but chairman Andy Worrall will not expect him to get a silk purse from a sow's ear!

"As a short-term aim it would be nice to get out of the bottom six next season," said Worrall. "Curly knows the set-up here and we have decided to go for continuity.

"It brought us success under Phil Mason and the new managers know they will have to work within the strict limits of a restricted
budget."

In switching from director of football to manager, O'Callaghan is copying the recent example of Lines, who has made a similar move at Brackley to replace Peterborough United-bound David Oldfield.

One of Curly's first jobs will be to try to persuade ace goalkeeper Matt Finlay to stay at Woodford after going almost three seasons without missing a single game.

Unfortunately, Finlay then damaged his shoulder in a pre-match warm-up and will need to have an operation before resuming his career as the Southern League's best goalkeeper.