Managerial exits and a new leader mark a week of upheaval in the Northern Premier League

Three Northern Premier League clubs dealt with managerial upheaval inside seven days as dugout departures overshadowed the action on the pitch.

At Whitby Town, the board accepted the resignation of manager Lee Bullock for health reasons, and the club said health and family would always come first. Assistant Denny Ingram stepped in as caretaker. Gainsborough Trinity's preview of the Tuesday fixture at Whitby noted that everyone at the club wished Bullock a speedy recovery. Lancaster City also sent a message to Bullock after he was admitted to hospital on Sunday.

Avro confirmed an approach from a Conference North side for manager Grant Shenton and first-team coach Mark Dickinson, who accepted it. Nick Simister, Andy Pheby and Dean Brathwaite also left. Alex Frost and Deane Smalley took charge for the visit of Lancaster City on Wednesday, assisted by Gianluca Havern and Matthew Leeming, while the search for a successor goes on. Frost wrote in the club programme that the interim team were "not here to change anything".

Ilkeston Town parted company with head coach Tristram Whitman and assistant Aaron Large, the club saying recent results had fallen below expectations. Colin Daniel and Ashley Hunter took interim charge, and Ilkeston were beaten 2-1 at Lancaster City on Saturday before losing 2-0 at home to Guiseley on Tuesday, when Amir Berchil and Jordan Thewlis scored.

At the top, Redcar Athletic beat Alfreton Town 3-1 on Saturday, with Adam Boyes scoring his tenth of the season, to go top of the table after a draw between Cleethorpes Town and Workington. Tuesday brought their first league defeat of the season, 3-1 at Curzon Ashton. Cleethorpes then beat Hyde United 1-0 through a goal from Fewster after eight minutes.

Workington's 1-1 draw with Cleethorpes at the Fibrus Community Stadium was their first dropped points after six straight league wins. Goalkeeper Alex Mitchell was sent off late on for handling outside his area, leaving captain Brad Carroll to take the gloves and save the resulting free kick. On Tuesday Workington drew 2-2 at Warrington Town.

After beating Gainsborough Trinity on penalties in the FA Trophy the week before, Bury progressed past Bromsgrove Sporting in the FA Cup, and Guiseley beat Bradford Park Avenue 1-0 in front of 1,574. Gainsborough went out to Anstey Nomads 3-2. In midweek Bury lost 1-0 at Stockton Town, and Gainsborough won 6-2 at Whitby.

At Emley, manager Richard Tracey spoke of injuries and set-piece problems ahead of a 4-1 defeat at Warrington Rylands. Tuesday's home game with Bamber Bridge was abandoned because of fog, with the visitors 3-0 up.