ROB Bate says that he and joint manager Paul Symes had to walk away from Stanway Rovers because their ambitious vision for the club was simply not shared by the board.
ROB Bate says that he and joint manager Paul Symes had to walk away from Stanway Rovers because their ambitious vision for the club was simply not shared by the board.
Stanway won the Ridgeons League Cup earlier this month, but after failing to agree on a budget for next season Bate and Symes handed in their resignations.
Bate said: “We felt we had taken the club as far as we could. There are no ill feelings and no personal issues, nor have we got anything else lined up, we just had ambitions in terms of where we wanted the club to get to and we felt those goals were slightly different in terms of the club as a whole.”
Bate and Symes took over at the Essex club at the start of the 2007/8 season and have led the team to seventh and ninth place finishes in the Ridgeons League Premier Division.
They have also overseen superb runs to the fifth and fourth round of the FA Vase, while earlier this month Stanway beat Leiston on penalties to win the Ridgeons League Cup at Diss.
Bate said: “Paul and myself have both enjoyed the last couple of years. The set of players we've worked with have been outstanding in terms of commitment and that's the saddest part of it.”
Asked whether he could see himself in another job before the start of the 2009/10 campaign, Bate said: “I wouldn't write anything off, but we'll just have to see what happens.
“I've certainly enjoyed working with Paul and I can certainly see the two of us working together in the future.”
In a club statement, Stanway chairman Roy Brett said: “The club will be looking to replace Rob and Paul as soon as possible in order to continue the club's commitment to further establish ourselves and progress in the Ridgeons Premier Division.
“I would like to thank Rob and Paul for all their hard work over the past two seasons. We all wish them well in whichever direction their football careers take them.”
Interested parties in the vacant managerial position at the Essex club should contact chairman Roy Brett on: 07860 413861.
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