NIGEL Russell was sacked as manager of Pershore Town prior to the club's Worcestershire Senior Urn first round clash at Worcester City Reserves last night, which they lost 4-2.

Russell was relieved of his duties by club chairman Graham Merchant following Town's 4-0 weekend home defeat to undefeated Bloxwich Town in the Midland Combination Premier.

Pershore are third from bottom in the league after clocking up seven defeats and conceding 26 goals in their opening ten matches.

The club's director of football Richard Anson takes temporary charge of Town, which included the cup defeat after extra-time at St George's Lane, while Merchant seeks a replacement boss.

Russell, who had been manager of the King George V Playing Fields outfit for two-and-a-half years, claims he was let down by the Town's committee for failing to hold a promise of an increased budget for new players.

He said: "I had my hands tied behind my back. I wanted a bit more money to try and bring in better players and I said to the committee on numerous occasions that if we had not got the right players with ability, then we were going to get what we paid for.

"Before the season started I sat down with the committee and put a proposal on the table which they agreed to originally. Just as the season started it was scuppered."

Merchant said: "We could not afford to give Nigel extra money. We thought we could but a sponsor that was going to give us the money pulled out.

"We are now third from bottom and we need a change. Richard will run the team on a temporary basis, week by week."