Former Carlisle United and Workington player Andrews will be in charge of Reds' battle to avoid the drop from the Evo-Stik Premier Division.

He has gone from joint manager, to caretaker manager, to assistant manager, to manager in the space of a few weeks. He will be assisted by former Reserve boss Steven Rudd.

Reds directors had to hold a special meeting last night to discuss the events on Saturday when Gavin Skelton resigned after the 1-1 draw at Stafford.

The board, and supporters, not to mention the players, had been left shocked after Skelton’s decision to quit six days into the job.

Chairman John Mackay described it as “a kick in the teeth” after the work he had put in over Christmas to make sure his move from Carlisle United went through.

In a statement, Reds said they will be seeking advice on how best to bring the matter to a conclusion.

It read: “Lee Andrews will be in charge of team affairs for the remainder of the season with the assistance of Steven Rudd, who returns to Borough Park to work alongside the manager in all football-related matters.

"The board will back Andrews and Rudd in whatever capacity they can as the pair continue with the difficult, but not impossible, task of preserving the club’s Premier Division status.

"A list of potential players has been identified to bolster the squad, although Andrews stressed that enquiries have been ongoing over the past fortnight and no signings are imminent.”