HAUGHLEY United are looking for a new manager after Phil Fairbrother resigned just days after winning the Bob Coleman Cup.

Fairbrother is standing down due to family reasons - his wife has Multiple Sclerosis and the family have recently been hit by another setback following a road accident.

He said yesterday: “I have been thinking about it for weeks and weeks, as I feel guilty giving up so much of my time to manage the club.

“I have tried to entice people into the club to help me, but without success. I will miss it, because my heart is still in football and I would love to carry on. The club has improved 300 per cent since last year, with the first team winning the cup and the reserves winning promotion to Intermediate A.”

“I have said I would not want to see the club struggling, so I will never-say-never so far as the future is concerned. Haughley are a big club and have started to get back to where they should be, but they need to be more professional off the field.”

The 58-year-old, who was previously in charge of Melton St Audry’s and Framlingham Town, took over as manager at Haughley in February last year. The club were bottom of the Senior Division of the Kingsley Halthcare SIL and had not won a game all season.

Fairbrother masterminded ‘The Great Escape’ as Haughley finished fifth bottom - ten points clear of relegation - after losing just one more game before the end of the season.

Haughley finished ninth in the season just ended and last Saturday lifted the newly-named Bob Coleman Cup, previously the Touchline Sports Cup, thanks to a 3-1 victory over Achilles at Woodbridge Town FC.

Haughley secretary Lee Forsdyke said: “Phil has worked wonders in his short spell in charge masterminding ‘The Great Escape’ in his first season and winning the Bob Coleman Cup this year. Phil will remain on the committee of the club as a fund-raiser/sponsorship co-ordinator.

“The club are now recruiting for a first-team manager for the 2012-13 season and beyond. Previous experience of managing at Step 7 would be an advantage but is not critical.”

Anyone interested is asked to contact Forsdyke on 01449 615579 or 07711 176262 or e-mail lrforsdyke@yahoo.co.uk