ALVECHURCH have been forced into a rethink after the man chosen to steer the club up the Midland Alliance table turned down the manager's job.

Former Studley and Redditch United favourite Ian Mitchell was offered the position last week but has decided against the move to Lye Meadow because he is enjoying his football too much.

Mitchell was set to take over the reins following the resignation of former manager Peter Frain last month. He would have been helped by Neil Kitching, a teammate at Rushall Olympic.

But the 38-year-old admitted he had had a change of heart.

"I was over the moon when they offered me the job as I didn't think I was going to get it," Mitchell explained.

"But when I thought about it I realised I wasn't ready for that move into management. I thought I was, but I'm not.

"I knew I would not be happy playing and managing and that I would want to be on the side - that is the only way you can see what's going on, you miss things when you are on the pitch.

"But I am still enjoying my football. I'm 38 but still playing regularly in the Southern League. My body will tell me when it is time to pack up but I still believe I have at least another season in me. I want to keep going until I cannot play any more."

Mitchell added: "I want to thank the people at Alvechurch for giving me the chance to manage - maybe I will get the chance again in a year or two."

Church chairman Peter Eacock said a number of new applicants had applied for the Lye Meadow hot seat and they would be sifting through those before making a decision.

He refused to reveal any of those being interviewed but one name thought to be at the top of the list is that of former Kings Norton Town manager Pete Dunbavin, now with Pilkington XXX in the Midland Combination.

Eacock said: "We cannot rush into making a decision. We have to make sure it is the right person as we still have the top three to go for."