By Nick GarnhamHADLEIGH United will return to the Premier Division of the Ridgeons League after a 12-year absence with a new manager following the departure of Steve Jay.

Nick Garnham

By Nick Garnham

HADLEIGH United will return to the Premier Division of the Ridgeons League after a 12-year absence with a new manager following the departure of Steve Jay.

The 47-year-old parted company with the club on Saturday - just two weeks before the start of the new season - claiming he had been sacked, although Hadleigh are saying that he has resigned his position.

Jay, who was frustrated at losing striker Chris Williams to Leiston along with potential signing Leon Ottley-Gooch, offered his resignation after a 4-3 defeat to SIL side Coplestonians in a pre-season friendly on Thursday night.

He said yesterday: “I had a chat with secretary Chris Rose and chairman Ken Ramsey after the match and said I think I am going to resign, but they told me to sleep on it and to speak to Chris on Friday.

“When I spoke to Chris on Friday I said that I would stay on and would speak with the players at training on Tuesday.

“I then had a telephone call from him on Saturday lunchtime and was told that the club's management committee had accepted my resignation, even though I said I had not resigned. I have been sacked,” he claimed.

Jay, who joined Dean Skinner as joint manager at the Millfield in June 2006 before taking over on his own, had previously managed Crane Sports, East Bergholt Reserves, Westerfield Reserves and Ipswich Sunday side Norbridge.

He added: “I would like to thank all the players who have rung and texted me with messages of support.

“We had a terrific season last year and I was looking forward to this season, but unfortunately that is now not going to happen.

“Hadleigh are a smashing club with everything going for them, but I now have to move on. However, I want to get back into management as soon as I can.”

Chris Rose, the Hadleigh United secretary, said: “The club's management committee met on Saturday lunchtime and following a discussion amongst us it was decided unanimously to accept Steve Jay's resignation as of Thursday evening.

“On behalf of myself and the club we would like to thank Steve for his contribution over the last three years, reaching the Suffolk Senior Cup final and just missing out on promotion in the 2007/08 season, and then winning promotion last season as well as reaching the Division One KO Cup final.

“We wish Steve all the best and hope to see him come down to the club in the future.”

Reserve team managers and coaches Simon Merrick, Chris Smith, Jim Walker, Adam Waspe and Nick Wilding have been put in temporary charge of both the first team and reserves until a new manager is appointed.

Applications for the vacant post should be sent to club chairman Ken Ramsey, 11 Wilson Road, Hadleigh IP7 5RU. The closing date is Friday, July 31.