Secretary plans smooth handover

Belper Town's long-standing club secretary Dave Laughlin has announced he is stepping down at the end of the season to hand over to a younger successor.

Laughlin, 63, has been club secretary at the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League's Nailers since 2005 but has been involved at Christchurch Meadow in numerous of capacities since 1979, a club career spanning nearly 34 years.

Belper's stalwart, pictured, hopes his colleagues can entice a younger man or woman to take the key role at the Evo-Stik NPL First Division South outfit and believes his early announcement will help ensure a smooth transition.

Laughlin said: "I feel that the time has come to hand over the reins to someone of younger vintage who can continue to drive the club forward and help it achieve its potential. I believe that this is the right time to make this decision because we all recognise in the club that succession planning is vitally important and needs to be properly organised whilst I am still in post.

"So, until the end of the season, I fully intend to continue to take the lead on all of our current major initiatives and to ensure that the handover of responsibilities to my successor is undertaken smoothly. After that, I will always be on hand to offer advice and guidance."

Laughlin paid tribute to his colleagues and revealed that far from retiring from football, he's hoping to fill other roles at the club next season.

He added: "I've had a great time in the job and have been privileged to work with some fantastic colleagues. I particularly want to thank my board colleagues, committee members, management and players past and present, for their friendship and their endeavours, all of which have made Belper Town Football Club one the best clubs to be involved with.

"Together, we have made the club one of the most respected in the league and one which has attracted favourable comments from visitors for the warmth of its welcome, the quality of its facilities and the professional way in which it goes about its business. Achieving FA Charter Standard Community Club status was perhaps one my proudest moments but there have been so many great moments during my time at the club.

"But, having spent so long at Belper Town, I do not want to completely distance myself from club activities. I hope to remain in some capacity and have suggested to the board a number of roles that they might like me to undertake and I hope that it will be possible to remain engaged in some way."