TIVIDALE boss Ian Long has agreed to join Alvechurch next season.

Long and his coaching staff are set to take the reins at Lye Meadow after Thursday, May 21 when Tivi complete their campaign against Stone Old Alleynians in the final of the JW Hunt Cup at Molineux.

Long revealed he is set to leave the Black Country outfit after his playing budget was cut in half, prompting Alvechurch chairman Richard Thorndike to make his move.

The 39-year-old has built his reputation after guiding Tividale to their highest ever finish in the North Premier League Division One South this season, despite the Dudley outfit having one of the league's smallest budgets.

"We are delighted to name Ian Long as the new manager of Alvechurch," said Thorndike.

"When we were putting together a list of potential new managers we didn't even consider Ian because we didn't think he'd been available.

"But when we played Tividale in the JW Hunt Cup last week you could see his mannerisms, so we put in a official approach for him.

"He's done an absolutely brilliant job at Tividale and this is a coup for Alvechurch.

"Ian and his coaching staff will give our players a chance but they will also want to bring in their own players."

The former Tipton Town boss joined Tivi in the summer of 2013 as joint-manager alongside Stuart Scriven, and the pair guided Tivi to the Midland Football Alliance title and JW Hunt Cup.

Following Scriven’s departure in the summer of 2014, Long was handed the opportunity to solely lead Dale’s first ever year at Step 4 football, and consolidated Tivi’s position in the Northern Premier League Division One South.

Long is set to bring with him assistant, Richard Colwell and goalkeeping coach Chris Walwyn.

While the new regime is set to run the rule over Church's squad, Long is also set to bring in players from his former club, with Dave Bellis, Richard Huckfield and Luke Paskin expected to join at the end of May.

Tividale's football general manager Leon Murray said: "Our focus is now on getting in a replacement and working towards next season.

"Ian wanted a club to match his ambition and hopefully he has found that at Alvechurch.

"Managers and players will come and go. Our focus is on doing the right thing by Tividale.

"We are now speaking to a number of applicants for the job and are aiming to get someone in place by the end of the month."