STALYBRIDGE CELTIC are searching for a new manager after boss Liam Watson resigned, saying he could not give the role the time and focus it needs.
The ex-Burscough, Southport and AFC Telford boss took over at Stalybridge in March 2015 and led the club to safety in the National League North.
Celtic finished a comfortable 12th in Watson’s first full season at the helm but they started slowly this term and have won just one of their first seven games.
Watson, who has won the National League North three times as a manager, has stepped down from his position at Bower Fold and chairman Rob Gorksi says the boss is unlikely to manage again.
In a statement, Gorski said: “I received a call from Liam to tell me that, after considerable thought, he had decided to resign as manager of Stalybridge Celtic.
“Liam has a couple of personal issues that must take priority and he feels that he cannot give the role the time and focus that it needs. He is happy to go on record confirming that ‘you will never see me in the dug-out again, I am retiring from management’.
“If Liam were resigning to take another job, then I would have rejected it, but family comes first and it was with the greatest of regret that I accepted the situation.
“After today’s defeat to Gloucester, there will be some who maybe won’t shed too many tears. I would personally remind everyone that firstly Liam has a unique record in delivering four Non-League titles but more pertinently for us, his man-management skills were there for all to see as he took a team who had won one point in 24, to play-off form and we survived absolute certain relegation on the last day of the season.
“For that alone Liam will forever have my gratitude. In his short time with the club, he also took us to the first round proper of the FA Cup, a feat we hadn’t achieved for over a decade.”
