Lee Roberts yesterday left what he described as his dream job of manager at Market Drayton Town - an unlucky 13 days after coming out of football retirement to help steady a club rocked by Simon Line’s departure to lead Hednesford.
“I left at my own request but that doesn’t stop me feeling gutted ,” he said.
“I wanted to do well as manager and felt I’d made a good start. I was refreshed after a holiday and raring to with all sorts of plans to bring in new players.”
A brief statement issued by club chairman Alex Mutch yesterday afternoon read: “Lee chose to go of his own accord - Mick Murphy will stay as club coach and the club will resume its efforts to find another manager.”
Mutch, the man who had asked Roberts to return to Town, was clearly saddened by the whole affair but would only add: “I have said all I want to say for the time being.”
Earlier in the day, Roberts and club coach Murphy had appeared before Mutch and club management committee members Brian Garrett (secretary), Clive Jones (match day secretary) and Frank Hodgkiss.
It followed a dugout disagreement between the manager and coach at Tuesday’s 3-2 UniBond League Challenge Cup defeat by Mickleover at Greenfields.
Roberts had flown back from holiday at four that morning and Murphy, given to understand Roberts would not be taking the evening cup tie, had got on with the job of running the team.
But the manager’s enthusiasm for Town overcome his tiredness.
Roberts confirmed yesterday’s meeting had been called to discuss the clash but declined to elaborate.
He said: “It happens in football. It’s people. I would not resign over the issue involved and they would not sack me so I did what I felt was the honourable thing.”
The move follows two Drayton wins in the last three games - both secured while Roberts was away on holiday. Town were 3-1 winners over Stamford on Saturday and last week enjoyed a fine 3-2 victory over Leek in the President’s Cup, before Tuesday night’s defeat to Mickleover.
He added: “It’s my club and always will be and I wish them all the best for the future.”
So now for the future? Roberts beat some big names in regional football to the job.
But one man immediately in the frame yesterday was Andy Cooke, the former Burnley, Stoke and Shrewsbury Town striker whose family’s former farm overlooks the ground and who still lives locally.
He’s one of the players Roberts was trying to sign but, having passed his coaching badges during his League days and put them to good use during a lucrative spell in South Korea, promoting and playing football there, he might now be tempted to raise his sights.
The managerial move comes days after Town dipped into the transfer market to boost their squad.
Jamie Askey (ex Wolves Academy defender), Mark Stallard (Wellington Amateurs defender), David Howells (midfielder, back from Bridgnorth Town) and Gareth Gates (forward, from the US) have all joined the club..
Stallard, Howells and Gates got a run out in Tuesday evening’s 3-2 Unibond Challenge League Cup defeat by Mickleover
Town’s once settled squad is in flux following the departure, earlier this month, of Simon Line to manage Hednesford.
Matthew Biddle this week became the latest player to leave, his return to the Oxford area adding to the loss of Grant Goodhead, James Carvey, Mark Grice and Duncan Horler.
There’s a question mark too, about Paul McMullen who returned from injury against Mickleover and is the target of an official seven day approach by Stafford Rangers.
Town host St Martins on Thursday night in the Shropshire Challenge Cup before a league game at Spalding this weekend and a home fixture with Belper on Tuesday night.