Bullock handed temporary control

The former Bradford City, Cardiff City, York City and Hartlepool United midfielder and defender, pictured, agreed to hold the fort this week after the Premier Division club ended the four year reign of player-manager Darren Williams.

Williams and assistant manager Dave Campbell left the Turnbull Ground on Monday, having lost their last four league matches in charge, and the hunt is now on to make a permanent appointment.

Last weekend's 1-0 defeat at Mickleover Sports proved to be the trigger for their exit with Saturday's quickfire return offering the Seasiders squad an early chance to make amends in their first home game in over a month.

Player-coach Bullock, 34, joined Williams at the Seasiders in 2013. Since kicking off his career at York City in 1998 and going on to make 171 appearances during eight years with the Minstermen, he has also turned out on loan for Gateshead and Stockport County in Non-League.

The Seasiders were originally scheduled to host Mickleover on 12 December but the fixture was brought forward two weeks after original opponents Buxton advanced to the third qualifying round of the FA Trophy. Having won only three of their opening 21 league outings, Bullock will take training on Thursday night with the Seasiders third from bottom and five points adrift of safety.

Williams was appointed in October 2011 as the successor to Tommy Cassidy after making over 200 appearances for Sunderland.

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