Harvey will take a break of at least three months to recover

The former N Ireland international took ill before Saturday's game against Cambridge United and is recovering in the Royal Lancaster Infirmary.

The 47-year-old will remain away from his job for at least three months.

Club captain Jim Bentley and Academy director Dick Danson will take temporary charge but the club still plan to appoint an interim manager.

"We are well respected as a club and there are some good football managers out there who are not currently in work," said chief executive Rod Taylor.

"I am confident we can get someone in of a high calibre who will come and help us out for a few months.

Chairman Peter McGuigan said: "Jim is fully aware of what we are planning. I have seen him in hospital and have spoken to him about these arrangements and we will be keeping him and his family informed of any appointments we make.

"We are a full-time professional club and we need, as a board, to give our players all the support we can.

"We are still in contention in the Conference and it remains our objective to fight for promotion this season.

"We need to put things into place to keep us in contention - business has to go on."