MANAGER Thorpe believes Alvechurch will get back to winning ways once the new signings bed in.

The Lye Meadow outfit suffered a third straight loss on Saturday when they were beaten 3-1 by AFC Wulfrunians in the Midland Alliance on Saturday.

Since taking the reins five weeks ago, Thorpe has rejigged his squad, signing the likes of Luke Sheaerer, Rico Taylor, Stuart Parsons and Jack Cresswell among others.

He said: “We have made a few changes since arriving and it will take a while for the team to settle down.

“But I am trying to bring in players who will improve the team and are also for the future.

“I cannot fault the players for their effort and on Saturday we came up against a good Wulfrunians side.

“I have to take responsibility, I got the shape wrong and I can only throw my hands up to that because ultimately it has cost us. I can sit and scrutinise every individual performance since I took over, I don’t think in any game we have looked out of our depth, and Saturday was another one of those performances in the first half.”

Alvechurch still have several players from Birmingham City’s youth scheme project, including the likes of Jamie Spencer. But Thorpe revealed he is careful not to over play the already busy Blues players.

He added: “The players with Birmingham have school or college and are also playing Midlands Floodlit games, and you have to be careful because you don’t want a young lad playing 80 or 90 matches in a season.”

Shearer had made it three goals in as many games when he fired Alvechurch ahead in the first half, only for Wulfs to hit back impressively after the break.

Alvechurch, who were set to play Studley in the Worcestershire Senior Urn last night, go to Stourport Swifts on Saturday and entertain Highgate United on Boxing Day (kick-off 3pm). Meanwhile, Lawrence Curran has been the subject of a seven-day approach from Heath Hayes.