Former Aston Villa defender Shaun Teale has left Southport to take on his first managerial job.

The veteran 38-year-old leaves after two years with the Nationwide Conference club to become player-boss of UniBond League Premier Division side Burscough.

Teale, who had also expressed an interest in the vacant manager's job at former club Carlisle, is taking Southport youth-team coach Ray Stafford with him as his assistant.

The central defender started over 500 senior games with Bournemouth, Villa, Tranmere, Motherwell and Carlisle before signing for his hometown club in July 2000.

Teale was a virtual ever-present for Southport this season and his departure spells the start of manager Phil Wilson's re-building plans.

The Sandgrounders finished 15th in the table after a disastrous final couple of months and Wilson is looking to bring in half-a-dozen new signings over the summer.