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Ashington have made the shock appointment of former England cricket hero Steve Harmison as their new manager.

Harmison – known as the Ashington Express during a playing career that saw him take more than 200 test wickets for England – is a huge football fan and has family links in the non-league scene in the North East.

But his first post-cricket appointment will still come as a shock – Ashington are struggling in Division One of the Ebac Northern League.

Harmison will take charge of his first game on Tuesday, and will be joined by head coach Ian Skinner and Lee Anderson as part of a new management team at Woodhorn Lane.

Ashington chairman Ian Lavery – also the MP for the area – said: “All three have a wealth of experience in the sporting world and together can build on the success that Ashington Football Club have had since moving to Woodhorn Lane.”

His brother James played for Ashington and his uncle Mel managed Bedlington. Ashington travel to Bishop Auckland on Tuesday night – hoping to bounce back from a 4-0 defeat to Marske over the weekend.

More to follow.