Marcus Gayle leaves struggling Staines Town

FORMER Premier League striker Marcus Gayle has left Vanarama Conference South bottom side Staines Town after their 5-3 defeat to Chelmsford on Sunday.

The defeat, their fifth in a row, left the Swans rooted at the bottom of the table and nine points adrift of third bottom Bishop’s Stortford.

Gayle’s two-and-a-half year tenure ended on Monday morning after a meeting with the Swans’ vice-chairman Ken Williams.

The former Wimbledon striker had kept the club at Step 2 in his first season before an impressive eighth place finish last term.

A club statement said: “At a meeting on December 29, it was with some reluctance that Marcus Gayle tendered his resignation from the position of first team manager of Staines Town FC with immediate effect.

“The club would like to thank Marcus for his work over the past two-and-a-half years, which brought considerable success especially in 2013-14.

“However, the club’s recent poor results and form this season left the executive board no option but to accept his resignation. We would like to wish Marcus every success in his footballing future.

“Further announcements will be made soon in connection with the position and with imminent team management and selection.”