GRAEME Souness believes his former Blackburn Rovers captain Garry Flitcroft, now plotting another Chorley promotion tilt, has a massive future in management.

The Magpies are just three games from a return to the Conference, the fifth tier of English football, after a gap of 25 years.

Chorley lock horns with Boston United tonight in the play-off semi-final first leg that could potentially attract a 2,000 plus attendance to Victory Park.

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“It is only a matter of time before Garry Flitcroft is managing in the Football League – I think that is inevitable,” Souness told the Lancashire Telegraph.

“Garry has worked a minor miracle at Chorley, but what he has achieved has not surprised me one iota.

“They don’t make characters like Garry in football now.

“He’s old school, a natural born leader, who has earned massive respect in the game.

“If you were going to war, then Garry is the man who would come over the top with you.”

Souness added: “If ever there was a problem brewing, then Garry would sort it out. He was my main man at Ewood Park and he has taken that to Chorley and brought them out of the wilderness.

“He is proving himself to be a very good coaching talent and I’m delighted for him because he is a good guy.”

Flitcroft, who has guided the Magpies to two promotions, said: “Graeme Souness put his faith in me at Rovers, and the Chorley board have done the same, backing me as their manager.

“It is a super grounding and we’ve nothing to fear going into the play-offs.

“I love working at Chorley, it is a fantastic football club.”

Flitcroft has previously been in the frame to manage Accrington Stanley but insists he is concentrating entirely on the Magpies.

“All my efforts are focused on getting Chorley promoted again,” said Flitcroft.

Meanwhile, Boston United manager Dennis Greene says he is relishing the prospect of a play-off showdown with the Magpies.

And he feels with the second leg in Lincolnshire, that will favour his side.

“We’ve got the advantage of having the second leg at home, and I think that could help us,” he said.

“This is what we’ve played all season for. I think we’ve got a great chance.”

The second leg takes place on Saturday with the final on Saturday, May 9 with the showpiece at the home ground of the club who finished highest in the league.

Should they progress Chorley will face AFC Fylde or Guiseley.