MICK Stockwell last night spoke of his “great sorrow” after resigning as manager of Ridgeons League Premier Division side Woodbridge Town.The 42-year-old former Ipswich Town and Colchester United star, who took over the reins at Notcutts Park in May 2004, stood down yesterday.

MICK Stockwell last night spoke of his “great sorrow” after resigning as manager of Ridgeons League Premier Division side Woodbridge Town.

The 42-year-old former Ipswich Town and Colchester United star, who took over the reins at Notcutts Park in May 2004, stood down yesterday.

Stockwell, who guided Woodbridge to ninth place in the league last season, leaves Notcutts Park with Woodbridge in 16th place with 17 points from 15 games.

The club have had a topsy-turvy start to the season, including drawing 5-5 at reigning champions Wroxham, before losing their next away match 9-1 at Soham and then winning 6-1 at Walsham-le-Willows four days later.

Stockwell, whose last game in charge was a 4-1 defeat at Felixstowe & Walton United a week ago, said: “The club has got certain financial issues that it needs to sort out and we were unable to come to an agreement on certain things, so I felt I could not carry on with the job.

“It is with great sorrow that I leave because I have enjoyed it. We have had one or two defeats this season which we would not have expected with the players we have, but that is not the reason why I have taken the decision I have."

Neither chairman Keith Dixon nor vice-chairman John Beecroft were last night prepared to comment on the departure of Stockwell, who played more than 600 games for Ipswich and nearly 150 for Colchester before joining Woodbridge as a player after a brief spell with Heybridge Swifts.

It is not known who will be in charge of the team on Saturday when Woodbridge are away to Wembley in the second round of the FA Vase.