FORMER Middlesbrough and Darlington striker Alun Armstrong has replaced Tom Wade as manager of Blyth Spartans.

Wade stood down today after Spartans lost two games in a row, against Morpeth in the FA Cup and at lowly Frickley in the league on Tuesday, but leaves with the club second in the Evo-Stik Premier Division table.

It was in second position that Spartans finished last season, frustratingly for Spartans, who were pipped to the Darlington, and subsequently lost in the play-offs.

Wade will stay at Blyth in the short-term while Armstrong gets used to his new surroundings and will take charge of his final game Corby on Saturday as the new boss has a previous commitment.

Gateshead-born Armstrong, who has been coaching in Middlesbrough’s youth section and has not managed a club before, has agreed a one-year contract with another year’s option. He takes the reins for Tuesday’s home game against Spennymoor Town.

He said: “I can’t wait to get started. It’s a very exciting challenge for me and my main aim is to win promotion – after we so narrowly missed out on it last season.

“I’m used to challenges, from becoming a professional footballer to now running my own business and coaching at Middlesbrough. Becoming manager at a club like Blyth Spartans is something really special.”

Spartans chairman Tony Platten said: “Tom was very happy with the way things were working out on the pitch, but felt he had taken the club as far as he could and that – under the circumstances – a change was required. A unique opportunity then arose to bring to the club a new person with fresh ideas and drive and he jumped at the chance.

“After several unbelievably successful seasons at the club, including reaching the third round of the FA Cup, winning the Senior Cup and then being top of the league for the vast majority of last season – only to cruelly miss out on promotion – it would be normal for a manager to bask in the glory. Not Tom though, who has steered us to the top end of the league table already this time round.

“Tom, who was born and bred in Blyth and has always put the club first, identified the possibility of taking the club to a new level by bringing in the highly regarded Alun Armstrong.”

Armstrong signed for Middlesbrough in 1998, and while injuries restricted his opportunities he did score nine times in 29 appearances.

He had two spells with Quakers, in 2004-05 and 06-07, scoring ten goals in 60 games, including a hat-trick in a 4-0 win over Southend in October 2004.