Prendergast in sideways switch

Prendergast, pictured, stepped down on Wednesday night to oversee the youth and development programmes at Stainton Park after his side's 2-1 defeat at Mossley in EVO-STIK NPL First Division North on Tuesday night, a third reverse in a week for the fifth from bottom club.

Radcliffe Borough chairman Paul Hilton - who has asked assistant manager Joe Gibbons to take control of first team affairs as interim manager - launched the hunt for a successor to Prendergast in a statement hailing his work and explaining the club's decision to end his second spell at the helm and persuade him to switch to a new role.

Hilton said: "The club are in the process of a rapid evolution and growth, and whilst great strides have been made in the development of both the football and non-football aspects of the club the recent run of results has left the board with a difficult decision to make.

"This, coupled with the accelerated nature of the recent implementation of the development arm of the club we have taken the decision to re-position first team manager Bill Prendergast into an internal development role in order to maximise his skill set.

"Be assured that the DNA of this club will not change, we are on a path we believe is right for both the club and its players. Progression, development and attacking football are the cornerstones of the project we began eight months ago.

"We have seen considerable successes already along the way and more exciting developments are set to come. Our relationship with XPRO to name but one which will reach fruition in the summer and will stand us apart in in our approach to player development in the game.

"Bill's contribution to the building of the foundations of our project cannot be understated. His knowledge of youth development has built us a young team with considerable talent and promise and has already borne fruit with our first player moving into the professional game and we now expect him to continue that process in his new role."

Boro, who describe filling their vacant post as an "exciting opportunity to work in a progressive and rapidly developing club with a bright future", say potential candidates should send their applications to enquiries@radcliffeboro.com. Alternatively, email paul.hilton@radcliffeboro.com for more information.

For more information on the club visit www.radcliffeboro.com or follow them on Twitter @radcliffeboro.

Image courtesy of www.burytimes.co.uk

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