91Èȱ¬

AFC Telford United manager Andy Sinton has appointed Graham Hyde as his new number two following the departure of assistant manager Mike Davies.

Former TNS boss Davies only came on board in January 2012 to succeed Darren Read as Sinton's right-hand man.

But he has resigned to spend more time concentrating on business interests.

And Sinton now has turned to his former Sheffield Wednesday team-mate Hyde, who had been number two to Jason Lee at Boston until last month.

Former Wednesday and Birmingham City midfielder Hyde, who played non-league football locally at Worcester City and coached at Redditch, became caretaker boss at Boston following Lee's departure.

Going into this Saturday's Blue Square Bet Premier home game with Southport (5 January, 15:00 GMT), Telford stand worryingly just one place above the relegation zone, having won just once in three months in the league.

But, although Sinton went on record before Christmas with regard to a problem in the dressing room that needed to be 'eradicated' , the club have been quick to point out that has had absolutely nothing to do with Davies's departure.

"Mike has been a great asset to the club, and we're really sorry to lose him," said chairman Lee Carter.

Davies, 33, who has quit due to the success of his fledgling sportsgear company, insists: "It's nothing to do with the team's position.

"The decision didn't come easily," he told 91Èȱ¬ Radio Shropshire. "My new business has really taken off, and it's like having two full-time jobs."

Meanwhile, Sinton has made two additions to his squad, signing former Hull City defender Joe Lamplough, as well as bringing in midfielder Gerard Kinsella from Fleetwood.

But there have been vacancies left in the dressing room by the departure of four players, followed by the expected exit of Chris Blackburn, who remains on the transfer list.

Former Aston Villa striker Darren Byfield has been released, midfielder John Brown has emigrated to Thailand, striker Chris Sharp joined Hereford United on New Year's Day and utility man Tom Roberts has left to sign for Colwyn Bay.