TONY Sullivan has tasked with halting Witton Albion's slide down the Premier Division table after being appointed as manager.

He starts work at training tonight, Thursday, after resigning from his role at Cammell Laird.

The 39-year-old, interviewed for the position following Brian Pritchard’s exit in August, emerged as chairman Mark Harris’ preferred choice shortly after Anthony Sheehan resigned at the weekend.

Sullivan has been in charge at Cammell Laird since November 2010, guiding them to the Northern Premier League’s Division One North promotion play-offs final the season before last.

The Birkenhead-based club resigned from the competition in the summer, dropping down to the North West Counties League’s second tier.

He leaves with them placed second in the table following a 10-match unbeaten run, seven of them ending in victory.

Harris said in a statement: “Tony’s brief is simple; to bring stability to the club.

“This may require a complete overhaul of the playing staff, and will also include ensuring a better flow of talent from our reserve and  youth teams into the senior squad.”

Sullivan arrives at Wincham Park in the midst of the first team’s worst run of results in the Premier Division since 2008.

A 2-1 defeat at home to Frickley on Tuesday was their fifth in succession.

After starting September with a 2-0 win at Barwell that propelled them to third in the table, they have since tumbled more than a dozen places during a disastrous sequence that has seen them concede 18 goals, scoring four.

Sullivan’s first match at the helm is at King’s Lynn this Saturday.

Frank Games, chairman at Cammell Laird, said: “We would like to thank Tony for all his hard work on behalf of the club during his time with us, and we look forward to meeting up with him soon.”