Dale Belford to leave Rugby Town at the end of the season

DALE BELFORD will leave Evo-Stik NPL Division One South club Rugby Town in the summer despite the Valley still being in the play-off hunt.

The former Tamworth boss replaced Gary Mills in September after the club won just one of their opening seven league fixtures having been transferred from the Southern League Central.

A former Rugby player, Belford led the club out of trouble and they are currently ninth in the league and nine points adrift of the play-offs with two games in hand on some of their rivals.

Despite having something still to play for, the club confirmed that Belford will not be at Butlin Road next season with the Tamworth legend saying “a different direction would be best”.

Director Neil Melvin said: “Dale has done a great job for the club. When he took over we were in a precarious position in the table and whatever happens now he has surpassed any expectations.

“By announcing the decision at this point, we hope that it eliminates any uncertainty and distraction ahead of what hopefully will be the completion of a great turnaround in fortunes on the pitch.”

Belford added: “I’ve talked things through with the club and now that the primary objective of my appointment has been attained, we have concluded that a different direction would be best in the longer term.

“I was tasked with keeping the club in this level of the Non-League Pyramid, and this has been achieved.

“As I have said before, it has been the most challenging job that I have ever had in football, but it has been thoroughly enjoyable one too and I thank the club for giving me this opportunity to get back into the game.

“I can assure everybody that despite this announcement, my full focus is on achieving as high a finish as we can in the division and hopefully this will mean a place in the play-offs and success beyond that.”