ROSS Speight has joined the management team at Middlewich Town, the Cheshire League club has confirmed.

He left Lostock Gralam last weekend, along with his assistant Michael Welch, after they lost in the JA Walton Challenge Cup final against Wythenshawe.

The Guardian understands both of them will make the switch to Seddon Street to work alongside first-team boss John O’Sullivan.

“Once I knew Ross was available, I called him,” said the Witches manager.

“It will be a joint effort and, between the three of us, I think there’s a bit of everything in the mix in terms of experience, coaching and the way we like our teams to play football.”

Speight announced in March that he planned to leave Park Stadium after three years in charge.

He had been with the Grey Lambs since 2006, when he signed as a player.

Last month he guided Lostock to a first success in the Mid-Cheshire District FA Challenge Cup final at the fourth attempt, ironically by beating Middlewich.

O’Sullivan, whose own number two Stuart Tulloch left for neighbours Barnton at the turn of the year, will be grateful to have more support.

He said: “It was a struggle after Stu moved on.

“Other people at the club have mucked in, but it’s been a bit of a nightmare towards the end of the season when we had so many midweek games.

“I was sending probably 100 texts sometimes just to get a team out.”

Middlewich ended the season third in League One, 17 points adrift of a promotion position.

Lostock, despite a sequence of one defeat in six matches, finished bottom of the same section following a 3-2 defeat at Maine Road reserves in their final fixture.