Bishop Auckland manager resigns after difficult start

Assistant Dave Onions will also leave the club with immediate effect, the club have confirmed.

The news comes amid a difficult start to the season which has seen the Two Blues pick up just seven points from their opening nine league games.

They sit bottom of the NPL East Division but have played fewer games than all of the teams immediately above them in the table. 

Their decision to resign was announced hours after the club were beaten 2-0 by Heaton Stannington - a result which means they have now lost seven of their last eight games in all competitions.

"My sole objective has always been to see the club improve and grow, and now I feel the time for a fresh face and new voice is needed to take the club forward," Carling said.

"Despite results, there are still plenty of games left in the season to improve on last year's top-half finish, so please get behind the players and the next management team when that decision is made."

Following spells as a player at Heritage Park, Carling moved into a coaching capacity at Bishop Auckland four years ago.

He was part of the management team that helped save the club from relegation to the Northern League Division 2, which was followed by a successful season where they just missed out on promotion.

His successful leadership alongside Chris Hardy saw the Two Blues crowned 2023/24 Northern League Division One Champions, securing promotion to Step 4 in the process.

Last season they finished 11th, eight points above the relegation zone.

Former Hartlepool academy coach Andy Dixon has been placed in temporary charge while the search begins for Carling's successor.

They return to action on Tuesday night away at Pontefract Collieries.