James Croker is back at the helm of struggling Oakmeadians as they bid to stop their slide down the South West One East table.

He has returned as head coach following three-and-a-half months on the sidelines through illness.

Croker, whose side were crushed 76-0 at Buckingham on Saturday, suffered a heart attack after the Meyrick Parkers’ one-point home loss to the same opposition in October.

But he has been given the all clear to return to work today and has also taken over the reins at Oaks.

Brendon Daniel has stepped down as acting coach after alerting the club two weeks ago of a prospective move into a coaching role in the Caribbean next month.

The Kiwi told Oaks of his impeding departure so they could put someone in place for the future.

Daniel, currently sidelined with a neck injury, said: “I’ll continue to be at training to do my best to help the coaches and players make the transition as smooth as possible.”

Mark Mulcahy returns as backs’ coach, while Tim Flower and Marcus Atkins have also joined the coaching staff.

Will Croker, Hayden Hokianga and Mike Richards, who temporarily took charge of team affairs alongside Daniel when James Croker was taken ill, also make way in the reshuffle.

James Croker said: “This is no reflection on Brendon because we fully support him and thank him for all his hard work and effort.

“Brendon and I coached the team to joint top spot earlier this season and he did a great job then.

“So far as I’m concerned he shouldn’t take any blame for what has happened.”

James, whose seventh-placed side must turn around a run of eight losses in 10 league matches, added: “I’m alright health wise. I’m pretty much recovered now.

“I’m feeling good and enthusiastic. I just have to try and get that enthusiasm into the players.

“I was at Buckingham and there are reasons why we lost so heavily, so it’s my job to try and improve those areas of our game by 10 per cent.

“There’s no quick fix, and with us only four points above the relegation places, we’re against the clock. But if we continue to work hard, I’m confident we can stay up.”