MARTIN Head’s resignation as chief executive officer of Suffolk Football Association does not mean that he will be lost to the game completely.

He plans to stay as FA delegate for the county, and to be around to offer any assistance that Suffolk FA might need.

Head has been at the head of football in Suffolk since July 2002, and there have been some big changes since then.

A move away from footballing matters led to his decision to stand down.

He explained: “When I first became secretary – a post that led to being chief executive – I was primary involved in football issues.

“Nowadays items like health and safety, employment law and performance management are taking up more of my time.

“I don’t feel motivated enough on those matters to be re-trained although I am right behind the reasons for these issues to be give prominence.

“I plan to stay as FA delegate and offer myself for re-election at the annual general meeting and to be around if Suffolk find they want to call on my experience after December when I leave.”

A decade ago Suffolk football matters were being run in former secretary Bill Steward’s front room, and when Head took over – working from Felaw Street, Ipswich – there were two other full time employees in James Payne (administration) and Will Cook (football development).

Now, having moved into a purpose-built headquarters in Stowmarket in 2003, Suffolk FA has 10 full time employees and a number of part time ones.

Head looks back with pride on a number of successes over the last eight years including reaching three FA County Youth Cup finals, the playing of three county cup finals at Portman Road each year, the implementation of strategies handed down by the Football Association and the closing of the gap between Ipswich Town and other clubs in the county.

“We now have Lowestoft Town and Bury Town one step away from Blue Square South football,” said Head, who played for Heath Row and Lonsdale and managed Crane Sports, Stowmarket Town, Sudbury Town, Harwich and Ipswich Wanderers as well as cutting his administration teeth as secretary of Wanderers.

The man who led Sudbury to an FA Vase final at Wembley in 1989 and a host of trophies said: “Whatever you do you can’t beat playing.”