MATLOCK Town manager Mark Atkins has rubbished claims made by Buxton supporters that he had applied for the vacant manager's job at Silverlands.

Former Worksop Town chief Martin McIntosh was appointed but some Bucks fans had posted on both their own website's fans forum, plus a national non-League forum, that Atkins had submitted an application for the job, which is vacant for the second time this season.

"It was Buxton who contacted the club on Friday morning to ask if they could speak to me about the job," said Atkins.

"Matlock gave permission, so I went up there to speak to them on Saturday and that's as far as it went.

"I didn't apply, I've just spoken to them.

"I went out of curiosity, really, and out of politeness.

"I'm really surprised that someone at Buxton has let this out as it can cause friction between the two clubs and it's something that nobody wants.

"We do our business down here totally differently and I've since telephoned the Buxton chairman to complain about what's happened."

Atkins has done well in his first management position.

Many fans thought he was a miracle worker in saving the Gladiators from what appeared to be certain relegation when he arrived in November 2009.

In the next season, the Gladiators finished seventh and won the Derbyshire Senior Cup before a disappointing end to the 2010-11 campaign saw the Gladiators miss out on a play-off place, sliding from second to 11th.

Although Matlock are currently on a bad run, with only one win in 10 games leaving them in 13th place in the Evo-Stik Premier Division, Atkins has assured fans that he is content at the Gladiators.

"I'm quite happy where I am, being manager at Matlock Town," he added.

"There's some great people here who are all very supportive towards me.

"I've no problems with anyone at the club.

"My aim is to improve our results as soon as possible and myself, Nick Buxton and the squad of players we have will be working very hard to do just that and move us back up that table."

Matlock chairman Tom Wright is delighted that nothing came from Atkins' trip to the High Peak.

"We believe that Mark and his staff, by continuing their hard work, can bring about an upturn in our fortunes," said Wright.

"It's disappointing that these false claims have come to light but we move on and I urge all of our fans to unite together and to continue to get behind the team."