Joint-boss Pete Harris says there are a number of reasons why he has decided to leave Woodford United.
Harris and Paul Oddy had been running the show at Byfield Road since Howard Forinton exited the club back in October.
But the team has still yet to record a point in Evo-Stik League Southern Division One Central, losing all 31 games this season, with a goal difference of -107.
And Harris, who was working on an unpaid basis, has now had enough, leaving Oddy in sole charge of the Reds.
Harris said: “We didn’t expect a great deal when we took over, but we had six senior players, the likes of Wes Emery and Joe Power, leave the club.
“The lads that are left are only 16 and 17 and it’s not fair on them. Some are playing four times a week, because they turn out for the youth team on Thursdays as well.
“I’ve emailed the chairman (Andy Worrall) to tell him it’s too much for them and I don’t want to be part of it if they get a serious injury.
“I’ve never walked away from a job in football but a combination of things have contributed to this.
“It was just one thing after another and I had to call it a day.”
Woodford United, who were beaten 7-0 by promotion-chasing Rugby Town on Tuesday night, will be hoping to claim their first point of the season when they host Royston at Byfield Road on Saturday (ko 3pm).
DAVENTRY TOWN
Daventry Town maintained their slim hopes of a claiming a place in the Division One Central play-offs with a 3-1 Communications Park win over fellow contenders Slough Town on Tuesday night.
Darran Foster’s men went into the game on the back of a disappointing 2-1 home defeat at the hands of Godalming last Friday.
The Daventry boss insists his team won’t give up on their play-off dream until it is mathematically impossible for them to finish in the top five.
And Tuesday’s win over Slough means that is not yet the case.
It looked like it was going to be another frustrating night for the Purple Army when Slough took an 11th-minute lead.
Daventry were still trailing in the 65th minute, but that was when Ashley Robinson notched the equaliser.
Just 12 minutes later, the game had been turned completely on its head, with Kyle Cartwright making it 2-1 on 75 minutes, and Robinson then making the score 3-1 with his second of the night two minutes later.
Daventry held on for the win which means they are 12 points off the play-off places with 10 games remaining.
Robinson was also on the mark on Friday night, with his goal firing Daventry into the lead against Godalming.
The visitors hit back to level by the break, and then scored early in the second half to go 2-1 ahead.
Daventry applied plenty of pressure to try and get back in the game, but couldn’t find that crucial goal.
Town are back on the road on Saturday when they travel to mid-table AFC Hayes.
Foster’s men will be looking to exact some revenge on Hayes, who were 2-0 winners when the sides met at Communications Park back in November.
Striker Scott Cross is available for selection after serving his three-match suspension.
CORBY TOWN
“We are ready for a fight.”
That is the message from Corby Town manager Chris Plummer as his team prepare for their next challenge in the quest to get to safety in the Blue Square Bet North, writes JON DUNHAM.
The Steelmen boosted their survival hopes as they claimed a first win in nine games when Josh Moreman’s goal secured a 1-0 success over Stalybridge Celtic at Steel Park last weekend.
They missed the chance to build on that as the midweek clash at FC Halifax Town was postponed due to a frozen pitch but find themselves back on home soil on Saturday when they take on play-off chasing Harrogate Town – a team who thumped the Steelmen 6-1 just over six weeks ago.
Plummer was delighted with his team’s resilience as they picked up three crucial points from a scrappy affair with Stalybridge.
And he insists he will be more than happy to see his team do things the ugly way if that is what it takes to extend their advantage over third-from-bottom Colwyn Bay, who remain four points adrift but with two games in hand, going into the weekend’s matches.
“We have got a great bunch of lads and they gave us everything against Stalybridge last weekend,” Plummer said.
“That is the way it has to be in every game between now and the end of the season if we are to get ourselves away from trouble.
“If we have to win ugly then so be it. The pitches at this time of year mean you have to adjust your playing style sometimes and if we have to do that then we will.
“We have a number of big games coming up and the next one is on Saturday. We are ready for a fight.”
The Steelmen will be without striker Avelino Vieira for the clash with Harrogate as he begins a three-match ban following his red card in the 2-2 draw with Bishop’s Stortford.
That could mean a recall for recent signing Jordan Ivey-Ward but Plummer is keeping his cards close to his chest for the time being.
“We have people who can come in and do a job for us and we can shuffle things around,” he added.
“We can also perhaps have a look at a change in formation. But these are all things we will look at in the build-up to the game.
“The most important thing is that the players keep their minds on the job at hand and that is making sure we pick up enough points between now and the end of the season.”
KETTERING TOWN
There haven’t been many reasons to be cheerful when it comes to Kettering Town’s season both on and off the pitch, writes JON DUNHAM.
But Sunday’s home clash with play-off chasing Barwell at Steel Park gives the Poppies the chance to do something that is a rarity for this campaign – complete a league double.
December proved to be the most fruitful month for Kettering on the field as they picked up three wins before also beating Bedford Town in their first game of 2013.
That mini-revival, at the time at least, gave fans what proved to be a bit of false hope as they eyed up the possibility of the greatest of great escapes.
The 2-1 success at Barwell was probably the big highlight as the Poppies beat a side who have been there or thereabouts all season thanks to Lewis Wilson’s brace.
And boss Thomas Baillie believes his team have shown in their last two games, and against the top sides in general, that there is nothing to fear even though the relegation trapdoor moves ever closer.
“It is a strange one really because if you look at our performances since the club started playing again after the financial problems, the better ones have been against the clubs nearer the top of the table,” Baillie said.
“The games we have had against the likes of Leamington, Stourbridge, Barwell and Cambridge City last week have all been very competitive, even though we might not have always taken points from them.
“I think the lads have shown they have nothing to fear and if they play to their best then they are more than capable of matching these teams.
“Barwell are a good side, they are chasing hard for a play-off place and they have been up there for most of the season. It is a tough game.
“But I do believe we can pick up more points between now and the end of the season. It is a matter of performing well consistently.”
The Poppies missed the chance to build on their encouraging 1-1 draws with AFC Totton and Cambridge last week after their clash with Bideford fell victim to the return of the cold weather.
And Baillie is hoping the momentum hasn’t been lost.
“Just in those last two matches we have shown signs of a big improvement,” he added.
“We were looking forward to trying to carry that on but the weather is something we definitely can’t control.
“I am just hoping the lads have still got the good things they did, particularly in the game at Cambridge, fresh in their minds.”
BRACKLEY TOWN
Brackley have received a big financial boost from the country’s largest sports charity, the Football Foundation. The Saints have been given £237,874, which will be used to provide a training and playing facility for local teams and the community of Brackley. A new sports pavilion will be built and there will also be new changing rooms as the club look to give more opportunities to players, coaches and volunteers.”
Brackley, who drew 0-0 with Workington on Tuesday night, are back in Blue Square Bet North action on Saturday when they go to FC Halifax.