Fans expecting early appointment

The formal process of inviting candidates to succeed the former Rugby Town boss at the EVO-STIK NPL First Division South club got underway on Thursday after his departure after two years at the helm for "family reasons" was announced two days earlier.

Appointed in 2015 as the replacement for Marcus Law, Stringer handed his resignation to Chasetown chairman Mick Joiner on Monday night after his final season in charge ended in disappointment following defeat in the Staffordshire Senior Cup final and a lowly 17th placed finish.

Assistant manager Cameron Stuart also left the club this week after Stringer's departure was announced on Tuesday to take up the vacant managerial role at Midland Premier outfit Coleshill Town.

In a statement thanking Stringer and Stuart for their efforts and inviting candidates to apply for the vacant hot-seat at The Scholars Ground, club officials said they were seeking a manager capable of winning promotion to the EVO-STIK NPL's top flight next season.

The Scholars said: "Following the recent departure of the management team of Dave Stringer and Cameron Stuart, the process of appointing a new manager of Chasetown Football Club is underway. The club will be looking to make a swift appointment to allow the new management team to fully prepare for the new season.

"Whilst last season was a disappointment in terms of our final league position, we would like to thank Dave and Cameron for their time with the club. The club has the ambition to compete for promotion and we are looking to appoint a management team that can achieve this.

"Any interested candidates should register their interest immediately with John Franklin via email via johnlynn.franklin@virgin.net as we will be shortlisting and interviewing with immediate effect."

Stringer, who admitted he stood down with a "heavy heart", has told lichfieldmercury.co.uk that his biggest regret was failing to take the club into the promotion play-offs while at the helm.

The ex-Scholars boss, pictured, said: “We missed out at the final hurdle in my first season but this year has been a disappointment. We thought we had put together a side that was not only capable of reaching the play-offs but also of challenging for the league.

“We brought in players with excellent pedigree but it just didn't click for whatever reason, although we did have – and it's not an excuse – some bad luck with injuries. The last eight weeks of the season we were fantastic and the penny seemed to have dropped.

“I can't thank the players enough for their efforts, they have been great the last two years and I wish them all the best, as I do the club. Hopefully the new manager can convince most of them to stay. I'm sure there will be many good candidates for the job, given the club Chasetown is."

Explaining his reasons for leaving to supporters, he added: “Work and family commitments mean I have too much on to commit to Step 4 level of football at the minute. There's a lot of time needed to manage a club at that level and you also have to do a lot of travelling.

“I have a family member who has not been well recently and I also need to put more time into my business. I've loved my time at Chasetown – it's a fantastic club with fantastic people. It's a really friendly club that made me feel welcome from the first minute I walked in to the last minute I walked out."

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