The Evo-Stik League Northern Premier

Halesowen Town Chairman Colin Brookes has been forced to step in as caretaker manager for at least one match after Tuesday's surprise announcement that manager Shaun Cunnington and his assistant Paul Tomlinson had resigned from the Evo-Stik NPL First Division South club.

The Yeltz travel to Biggleswade on Saturday in the FA Trophy as the hunt for a new manager begins. While that process gets under way Brookes takes charge of team affairs and he'll be aided by club physio Pete Denham and skipper Neil Barnfield as Halesowen try to negotiate the tricky Preliminary Round tie.

A club spokesman wished both Cunnington and Tomlinson well and expressed the club's special thanks for their hard work in recent years in bringing stability during one of the toughest periods in Halesowen's history.

"We wish to express our deep gratitude to both Shaun and Paul for their tremendous hard work while they have been at The Grove," said the spokesman. "They were in charge during a traumatic period in our history and strove to ensure that we were able to field a side on the pitch in the most trying of circumstances. They played a major part in the continued existence of Halesowen Town."

He added: "After a period of stabilisation last season under new ownership, expectations were high at the start of this campaign but an early FA Cup exit to local lower league rivals brought increased pressures and Shaun and Paul no longer felt they had the full support that they required. We wish Shaun and Paul good luck and success with their football careers in the future."