JIM Harvey has launched an urgent quest for more new recruits after making Northern Ireland Under-21s' left-back Josh Doherty his first signing as Altrincham manager just hours before Tuesday night's game at Nuneaton.

Doherty arrived on a one-month loan from Leyton Orient but could do nothing to prevent Alty's slump continuing as they slipped to a 4-1 defeat.

They were behind in the eighth minute and down to 10 men in the ninth, after midfielder Charlie Joyce failed to control a throw by keeper Andrew Dawber and was shown a straight red card for hauling down a Nuneaton player who was clean through.

Trailing 4-1 at half time, despite Dawber saving the penalty conceded by Joyce, Alty at least rallied in the second half.

But Harvey said: "It's still not good enough for what I would be looking for from an Altrincham team, and it is clear we've got serious problems at the moment.

"A lot of those problems will hopefully be solved when all our missing defenders come back from injury and illness but, equally, the level of performance from the team at the moment is way below what I would expect.

"So when I can, and I'm quite happy to say this, I will be looking to change things and bring people in to try and improve the side as much as we can.

"The penalty was crazy. Young Dawber shouldn't have rolled the ball out like that, and Joyce has come in and held his hand up and said he messed up. It was inexperience from both of them."

With focus switching to the FA Cup on Saturday, against Gainsborough Trinity at the J.Davidson Stadium (3pm), Alty have announced that left-back Adam Sumner and striker Emile Sinclair have left the club.

Keeper Tim Deasy should be fit to return from a groin injury, while centre-back John Cyrus also hopes to shake off a heel problem in time.

Danny Hall faces a late check on a hamstring strain, but the tie comes a week too early for Tom Hannigan.