Tooth steps up to lead Royals

Sutton Coldfield Town FC announced today [Monday] that Neil Tooth has been appointed first team manager with immediate effect.

The Evo-Stik NPL First Division South club's board of directors moved swiftly to fill the vacant position left by Chris Keogh's following his surprise resignation on Saturday after their 1-0 home defeat to Gresley Rovers in the FA Trophy's Preliminary Round.

Tooth, Keogh's assistant manager, agreed to step up from his former role and the Royals say he is now is looking to get things back on track as quickly as possible after their disappointing exits from both the FA Cup and the FA Trophy in the last two weeks.

Chairman Nick Thurston urged everyone to get behind the new man at the helm. "Neil was the clear favourite for the job after Chris stepped down and deserves his chance," he said. "Everyone at the club - players, supporters, everyone - now needs to get behind him and help us achieve the success on the pitch that we all want to see".

Sutton Coldfield Town's long standing manager Keogh hasn't left the Evo-Stik NPL First Division South club altogether. Instead he’s moved upstairs to take a seat on the club's board of directors.

After 12 years at the helm, Keogh decided to move away from the dressing room and direct management of the football team but will still remain active in his new capacity at the West Midlands club.