Steve McCormick has stood down as manager of Northern Premier League Market Drayton Town.
McCormick resigned on Monday after his side were beaten 2-0 by Frickley Athletic on Saturday, the Gingerbread Men hitting rock bottom as they swapped places with the Blues to end the day propping up the NPL's South East Division table.
McCormick – number two for over a decade to a succession of managers at Greenfields – only took charge in May following the departure of Martyn Davies. He walked away after losing eight of nine league games, six on the spin at home, as well as bowing out of the FA Cup with a 6-0 defeat at Romulus.
According to the Shropshire Star, Market Drayton Town chairman Mick Murphy has asked assistant manager Nick Roberts and coach John Timmis to take charge of Tuesday night's league trip to Loughborough Dynamo with club officials now “actively seeking a replacement”.
McCormick told the paper's website he was bitterly disappointed but insisted resigning was “the right decision”, citing the club's “very tight” budget for experienced players and a run of injuries to those he did have as key factors in making up his mind.
“You simply can't play too many youngsters in the same team in the Northern Premier, you just can't do it without players who have been around – and that costs,” said MCormick, pictured handing Harvey Howell his Bowlands Brewery Player of the Month award for August.
“I took it on without money for myself and knew the situation, but found it's become much harder trying to compete for players against clubs who have far greater resources.
“I wish Drayton Town all the very best for the future and sincerely hope the great spirit they have there will eventually see them through again. But it really is getting tougher.”
McCormick, a full-time time pro in the Scottish League for 14 years, added: “That's football; life moves on.”
Image courtesy of @MDTFC/Twitter
