LEE Hughes says he's yet to decide if to apply for next season's vacant manager's job at Halesowen Town.

The former West Bromwich Albion striker is currently leading the Yeltz in a player/manager capacity until the end of the current campaign.

The club's relegation from Southern League Central was confirmed last Saturday with a narrow 1-0 home loss against Kettering Town, who secured the title with the victory.

Hughes took control with 10 games left to play as he stepped in to replace previous boss Rob Smith at the Grove.

The club are now welcoming applications as they search for a new manager to help them bounce back quickly from the drop.

However, Hughes, who has been assisted by club stalwart Asa Charlton, says he hasn't decided if he'll put his name in the hat.

He said: "I'm not sure at the moment. It's a big decision for me because I need to decide if I still want to play next season.

"I don't feel like I can do both. I either need to be a player or a manager and just focus on one or the other, so it's really about having to decide if I want to retire.

"It's a big decision and so many players have told me over the years not to retire unless you have to. I do still enjoy playing and have been lucky with injuries as well.

"I'll just sit down with Asa at the end of the season and have a think about what to do.

"I've enjoyed it but we really were put in the deep end, especially when you think we only had about a week and a half to try and get players in.

"We'll just try and enjoy the last three games now and work hard and see what we can do.

"The players have to have pride and are really playing for themselves because they still need to impress and have one eye on next season, be that at Halesowen or another club."

On the Kettering defeat, he added: "I asked the lads to work hard and show the spirit we have and I think they did that.

"We were a little unlucky not to nick a draw at the very end but I was proud that we were able to push a team like Kettering as we did and make them work so hard for the win."

The Yeltz will now go to Biggleswade this Saturday before hosting Redditch United on Bank Holiday Monday (3pm kick-off).