Ramshaw walks away from Badgers

Eastwood Town are looking for a new manager after John Ramshaw resigned on Wednesday night.

Ramshaw's assistant manager Darren Kelk has also left Coronation Park and skipper Mitch Hanson and Paul Riley have agreed to take over as joint caretaker managers for Saturday's Evo-Stik NPL Premier Division clash at Ashton United.

The Badgers were relegated from Conference North last season and Ramshaw tendered his resignation with Eastwood in the bottom three of the Premier Division having taken 10 points for 14 matches. In his final game in charge on Tuesday night Ramshaw saw his side lose 1-0 at fellow strugglers Frickley Athletic after conceding a 90th minute own goal.

As the hunt for his replacement gets underway, Ramshaw blamed continuing budgets cuts for his decision to walk away which he claimed had made his position untenable.

Ramshaw said: "I have had some great times at this club – the club’s first season in the Blue Square Bet North, winning the Northern Premier League championship, reaching the Third Round Proper of the FA Cup are but a few – but I can quite honestly say, without reservation, that the past year has been the worst of my football career!

"Constant budget reductions and the uncertainty of wage payments have made my position untenable. More importantly the recent austerity measures imposed by the club mean that, once again, I no longer feel that with the current playing budget we can field a team that will be successful at this level of football.

"I have tried desperately to keep the club competitive but it has got to the point where I was not enjoying going to football anymore - and that is a terrible indictment for someone who has been passionately in love with this game for fifty-five years.

"This is not a decision I have taken lightly and in some respects I feel that by doing so I am letting down a lot of very good people at Eastwood Town who are fighting tooth and nail to keep this football club alive. However, there comes a point when one has to say, ‘Enough is enough’.

"Nor is it a reflection on my working relationship with the club’s owner Steve Lynch. I think Steve has had an unenviable task since taking over a club riddled with debt and hard decisions have had to be taken in the interest of keeping the club alive. Unfortunately they have only gone to accentuate my reasons for resigning.

"I would like to thank all of the players, staff and supporters who have shown patience and understanding whilst standing by me in this adverse period of the club’s history. I wish the club and all of those seriously involved with it, the very best for the future and sincerely hope the current financial problems can be overcome."

Club secretary Samantha Demetriou paid tribute to Ramshaw. She said: "I personally would like to thank John for all his help this past year like I'm sure a few others would, and wish him all the best for the future. We hope to name John's successor as soon as possible.

"Meanwhile, after a conversation with club captain Mitch Hanson, I am pleased to announce that he has accepted the offer to become caretaker-manager along with Paul Riley until we are able to name John's successor. I would like to ask all squad and supporters to give Mitch and Paul their full support on Saturday at Ashton United."

Eastwood Town are now inviting applications in writing for the manager's job. Applications should be addressed to Club Secretary Samantha Demetriou and sent by email to samantha.demetriou@hotmail.co.uk or by post to Eastwood Town FC, Coronation Park, Chewton Street, Eastwood, NG16 3HB.