Boss Gary Setchell leaves King’s Lynn Town after seven years with the club

Pic: Andy Nunn

GARY SETCHELL has left King’s Lynn Town after seven years in charge with the Evo-Stik League Southern Premier side all but out of the play-off chase.

A former King’s Lynn player, Setchell was first appointed as joint-manager alongside Kevin Boon in January 2010 but took sole charge of the club when Boon left in October 2011.

Setchell guided the club to promotion from the United Counties League in 2011-12 and they then won the Evo-Stik NPL South in their first season as a Step 4 side following their formation in 2010 after King’s Lynn FC’s closure.

The Linnets have finished 11th, 18th and ninth in the their three seasons at Step 3 and they look set for another mid-table finish with the club currently sitting 13th in the Southern Premier.

Monday night’s goalless draw at struggling Cambridge City left King’s Lynn 21 points adrift of the play-offs and with their top five hopes all but over, owner Stephen Cleeve has opted for a change.

A club statement read: “Stephen Cleeve, chairman of King’s Lynn Town FC, would like to place on record his thanks to Gary for his years of service both before and since his arrival at the club.

“Stephen Cleeve called the decision ‘the hardest decision that he has ever had to make’ but felt that it was necessary to take stock as the end of season approaches.

“It is important to Stephen that the club is challenging for the play-offs, sadly this season we have fallen short in our agreed target and whilst the blame for this does not lie by any means solely at Gary’s door, it is imperative that the club moves forward next season and are genuinely involved in the promotion race.

“League football is still very much the aim of the club, and after weeks of thought the chairman felt it was in the club’s interest to act swiftly.”