Kitching to stand down after cup final

Neil Kitching will end his five year reign as manager of Evo-Stik Northern Premier League Rushall Olympic after the Walsall Senior Cup Final.

The Premier Division’s Pics revealed on Wednesday that Kitching and assistant manager Nick Amos are hoping to leave on a high next Monday night after meeting Evo-Stik NPL neighbours Chasetown at Walsall’s Bescot Stadium.

Kitching, an archetypal centre-forward for the Pics as a player, took over in 2009 and has brought great success to the club, starting with a First Division South Play-Off Final victory over Grantham Town in 2010. This season he's set the club up to do a county double after masterminding last week's Staffordshire Senior Cup triumph when they beat Port Vale 2-1 on their own turf at Vale Park, pictured.

Along with his number two, Kitching is leaving by mutual consent and with the club's thanks. In a statement announcing the departures, Rushall Olympic Chairman John Allen, paid tribute to the pair on behalf of Vice-Chairman Nick Allen and the club’s committee members.

The Chairman, who is now inviting applications from potential successors for the hot-seat at Dales Lane, said: "We would like to place on record, following Neil Kitching’s decision to stand down after five successful years, our sincere thanks for the fantastic job that Kitch has done.

"All of the potential that we saw in Kitch in his first managerial spell at Coleshill Town has been realised. Under his leadership since 2009 the club’s success has been phenomenal.

"Kitch and Nick Amos brought a diligence to the job in galvanising the players who pulled on a Rushall Olympic shirt. Both Kitch and Nick are Rushall Olympic people through and through and we wish them well for the future and assure them both that they will always be welcome at Rushall Olympic FC."

Officials have set a closing date of Tuesday 20 May for applications which should be sent to the Football Secretary, Peter Athersmith, Rushall Olympic FC, 46 Blakenall Lane, Leamore, Walsall, West Midlands, WS3 1HG. Candidates can also apply via e-mail at: rushallolympic@yahoo.co.uk.

Image courtesy of ThreeFiveThree Photography