Jody Brown resigns as Heybridge Swifts manager

Bostik North side Heybridge Swifts have announced that manager Jody Brown has opted to leave the club.
Brown guided Swifts to successful runs in both the FA Cup and FA Trophy during the last campaign, as well as helping the club reach the end of season play-offs.
Heybridge have made a stuttering start to this season however and are currently sitting in 16th place in the table, following Tuesday’s 2-1 defeat at table toppers Basildon United.
Brown took the helm at the Essex based club in November 2015, with Heybridge sitting at the bottom of the Bostik North table, having registered just four points from their opening 13 league games.
The new boss inspired a remarkable run of form to help Heybridge escape a seemingly inevitable relegation.
Speaking to the Daily Gazette, Brown said: “The club has been on a massive uphill curve for the last two seasons, climbing from 255th in the non-league pyramid to 104th and ranked as the highest step four team in the nation by some way.
“Gary White is a fabulous chairman and Steve Spreadbury is equally as good as vice-chairman. It’s their hard work, along with a few others, which made it possible.
“I came in as manager while the club were bottom of the league and with quite serious financial instability.
“We worked really hard to stay up and I’m so proud of that achievement.”
Brown continued: “Given the financial stability we had brought to the club, I had really hoped for improved resources to at least allow me to keep our over-achieving squad together, but also hopefully improve it,” added Brown.
“When it wasn’t there I knew we would be pushed to progress further and when players were asking for astronomical increases as a result of their new found exposure, I had already begun to question their motives and principles.
“I recognised and appreciated the reasons for the club’s decision not to increase the budget over the summer and was completely supportive of the decision.
“However, in truth I wanted to step away then and had some really exciting opportunities offered to me at other clubs.”