ALEX Nicholls has been put in interim charge of Stourbridge FC for tonight's crunch match at Royston Town.

Much-travelled midfielder/ striker Nicholls, currently on the playing staff at the War Memorial, has stepped in in the wake of the shock departure yesterday of manager Ian Long, the club announced this afternoon.

Veteran Nicholls, 32, has enjoyed an illustrious career on the pitch, playing for Walsall, Northampton Town and Dundee United - where he won the Scottish Challenge Cup in 2017.

He now takes charge of the Glassboys for tonight's trip to Hertfordshire with Stour in need of a win to keep their Southern League Central Premier Division play-offs hopes on track.

Former boss Ian Long, who joined the Glassboys from Alvechurch at the start of the season, was reported to have left the club 'by mutual consent' yesterday.