Wantage Town begin new manager search after Stuart Cattell’s resignation

STRUGGLING Wantage Town have been left searching for a new manager following the resignation of Stuart Cattell.

Cattell decided to step down as boss of the Evo-Stik League Southern South & West outfit following Saturday’s narrow 1-0 defeat to leaders Hereford.

After becoming player-manager in November 2015, Cattell was made permanent boss the following month and guided the Alfredians to a 20th-place finish last season, five points above the bottom two.

This term has been a struggle for the Oxfordshire outfit and the loss to Hereford leaves the club second bottom of the table with just one league win all campaign.

“It was a decision taken with a very heavy heart,” Cattell told the Oxford Mail. “It’s not something I just did overnight, it’s something I’ve had to think long and hard about.

“I’ve been at the club for six years, closing in on seven, so it’s been a big part of my life. But I just felt it was probably best for the club if I stepped away. It wasn’t something I wanted to do.”

Cattell has seen a number of players leave the club in recent weeks and admits that he just couldn’t replace them.

His assistant Ben Sadler was expected to take charge of the team for Saturday’s home game against Taunton Town and Cattell says he hopes his successor, whoever they may be, has better luck in keeping a squad together.

“In the last couple of weeks we’ve lost three or four players and we just couldn’t replace them,” Cattell added.

“I’ve tried without any luck to find suitable replacements, but I just didn’t have the time to do it anymore.

“Whenever we unearth a good player they’re poached by someone else and it’s very hard to replace them.

“Hopefully this will give the chance to someone else, who maybe has a few more contacts and can build a team.”