SCARBOROUGH will be hoping the likely presence of charismatic football chief Ron Atkinson will increase the attendance at the McCain Stadium tonight.

Atkinson was unveiled as director of football at Kettering Town last week, and the promotion-seeking Poppies visit Boro tonight for a Nationwide North encounter.

The 67-year-old's first managerial job was as player-boss at Kettering in 1971, before he moved on to Cambridge United, West Brom and, in the early 1980s, Manchester United. He later managed Sheffield Wednesday, Aston Villa, Coventry and Nottingham Forest before becoming a TV pundit, only to lose that job in 2004 after alleged racist comments.

Atkinson's first match back at Rockingham Road was a top-of-the-table win over leaders Droylsden on Saturday, and he will be looking for Morell Maison's men to continue that form.

The Seadogs are just as desperate for points as they remain in deep relegation danger despite Saturday's 5-1 rout of troubled Lancaster.