ALVECHURCH have sacked manager Darren Byfield with the club sitting fourth from bottom in the Southern League Central.

The board made the decision after he picked up three wins from the first 15 games of the league campaign after facing a massive summer rebuild following the departure of previous boss Ian Long.

A statement from the club reads: "It is with sadness that we announce the departure of Darren Byfield as first team manager.

"The recent run of results have seen us bow out of all cup competitions at the first hurdle and left us just outside the relegation zone.

"It was always going to be a task of mammoth proportions assembling a new squad following the departure of most of the team from last season. We’ve picked up points here and there and although there are green shoots of recovery, the board felt it was time to move in a different direction."