STOURPORT Swifts will bounce back a stronger club after Rod Brown's resignation, according to chairman Chris Reynolds.

Experienced defenders Jan Mulders and Mark Dearlove are expected to take temporary charge as Swifts entertain Bedworth United on Saturday.

Reynolds has made Mulders caretaker manager and hopes Dearlove will agree to join him at Thursday night training.

The former Kidderminster Harriers pair take over from Redditch United-bound boss Rod Brown, assistant Gary Whild and player-coach Brendan Hackett.

A surprised Reynolds received the news of their departure early Wednesday evening and immediately set up a series of emergency meetings with his board.

But the Swifts supremo hinted he feared something was up looking back at Saturday's 6-2 defeat at Gresley and 5-4 loss, ironically to Redditch, in the Dr Martens Cup on Tuesday.

He admitted: "It came as a big shock to me as I only found out at 5pm on Wednesday. Though, obviously I found out something was amiss when we lost to Redditch on Tuesday night.

"I wish Rod and the others all the best and that's about it really. There's been something offered to him that we cannot compete with.

"I do feel the last two games were probably an indication of something behind the scenes. But in all honesty Rod and Gary have done a good job for the side and it's his decision.

"We will come out a stronger club at the end of the day. No-one is bigger than the club. We've done it before when Phil Mullen left us in the lurch when we went on to become a better side. We are in a great position now."

Reynolds expressed surprise that the manager had left for struggling Western Division rivals Redditch rather than moving upwards.

He continued: "If he had said he was going to a Premier Division side or Conference side, I would have said good look to you, you've done great. But he's done something I wouldn't have done personally."

But there has been plenty of immediate interest in the new post, while Mulders and Dearlove could yet prove they are the men for the job.

Reynolds added: "We have already had people applying, the phone has been red hot. We are in a prime position for people who want to come in.

"We are still in with a chance of winning the league and are in the second round of the FA Trophy."