HADLEIGH United are looking for a new manager after parting company with Peter Grant.

The 42-year-old and his assistant Gary Thompson have both left the Ridgeons League Premier Division club following a meeting with committee members on Sunday.

Grant, a former professional with Ipswich Town and Stockport County who also played for several Ridgeons League clubs, said he had come to a ‘mutual agreement’ with the club to go their separate ways.

Hadleigh finished third bottom of the league, although they were never in any danger of relegation due to the fact that both King’s Lynn and Harwich and Dovercourt withdrew during the season and the Brettsiders always had a healthy points advantage over the bottom two sides.

Grant took over the Millfield hotseat from Steve Jay, who left just before the start of last season after Hadleigh had won promotion to the Premier Division following a 12-year absence.

Grant said: “I didn’t want to leave because when I took over as manager my job was to keep Hadleigh in the Premier Division, and I have achieved that objective.

“I stuck by the players we had last season, but I am disappointed to be leaving as I was looking forward to stamping my authority on the club by bringing in some new players next season.

“I hope whoever gets the job does well. They are a well-run club, but I think maybe the committee lack experience on the footballing side and listen to too many opinions from other people.”

Grant, who joined Hadleigh from Debenham Leisure Centre, where he was coach to Mel Aldis, said that he was keen to return to management as soon as possible.

“I hope that maybe one day I will be able to go back to Hadleigh with my own team to play against them.”