WITHAM Town chairman Tony Last says he owes a “huge debt of gratitude” to outgoing manager Ken O'Donnell, who resigned his post at Spa Road yesterday.O'Donnell quit his job as first-team boss after Witham's 2-0 defeat to Arlesey on Tuesday night, but it has clearly been with a heavy heart the club accepted.

Mike Bacon

WITHAM Town chairman Tony Last says he owes a “huge debt of gratitude” to outgoing manager Ken O'Donnell, who resigned his post at Spa Road yesterday.

O'Donnell quit his job as first-team boss after Witham's 2-0 defeat to Arlesey on Tuesday night, but it has clearly been with a heavy heart the club accepted.

“Ken has done a fantastic job for us here at Witham, and we all owe him a huge debt of gratitude,” Last said.

“He has a pressurised job and I think he needs to re-charge his batteries. After the Arlesey game he said he felt he had taken the club as far as he could.

“I intend to take the job on until the end of the season, but we want a new man at the helm for the start of next season.”

O'Donnell took on the first team job at Spa Road after Russell Tanner left the post during a difficult last season.

But after a quiet start to this campaign, Witham have achieved many notable results, including victory at high-flying Maldon and a 4-1 win over Bury Town.

Last's first job will be to organise his side for Saturday week's local derby clash with AFC Sudbury at Spa Road on January 19.

And he is determined the club will continue their quest for a top-10 place.

“My ambition for the club is the same as Ken's was. A top-10 place would be good, a top-six play-off position great,” Last added.

“We are about to set up a five-year plan at the club and would like to be at level three within that five years. There is a lot going on at the club, including a new stand to be built by the start of next season, and an extension to the club house.”

Meanwhile Witham have linked up with Braintree College to launch a new Football and Education programme commencing in September 2008.

Aimed at school leavers, the course provides aspiring young players with the opportunity to continue their academic studies while at the same time developing their football ability. The programme is based around the BTEC Sport courses offered at Braintree College.

A Taster Day has been arranged for prospective new students/players on Saturday, February 16. at Witham Football Club. The day starts at 9.30 am.

mike.bacon@archant.co.uk