Hunt for new manager starts THE search for a new manager for Lancaster City Football Club is on following the shock resignation of Alan Tinsley this week. Tinsley - the man who led City back to the Northern Premier League in last season's historic, double-winning campaign - quit after three-and-a-half years in charge at the club. He spoke to Citizen sports reporter Colin Dyer yesterday explaining the reasons behind his decision which has amazed fans at the Giant Axe club.

Alan said: "I am just not enjoying football any more, it's as simple as that. Football is changing, it's more about money now than ever before and I was never really interested in that side of things. I got involved in football because I loved playing, not to feather my own nest.

"This has been building up for a few years and is just one of the reasons why I am not particularly happy at the moment.

"Officials are another reason. I have said before that I think the club gets victimised by officials because of my relationship with them and I have told the club in the past that I think I have held them back in that way.

"I have even had referees ask me to keep the noise down as I've been walking across the pitch to the dugout before the game has even started.

"None of this has anything to do with Lancaster Football Club at all, there is no animosity there and the club have always backed me 100 per cent. I didn't make this decision lightly but it has been in my mind for a few years."

Despite his disillusionment with the modern game, Alan has said that he will be back at Giant Axe this season but just as a spectator.

He added: "I have decided to go now because we have only played 14 league games and that gives whoever takes over enough time to turn things around. I am sure the club will stay up and I will definitely be down there during the season to watch some matches."

Tinsley's assistant Mick Hoyle, also commercial director at Giant Axe, has taken charge of the running of the team while the post is advertised. His first game in charge was a 1-1 draw at home to Winsford United on Tuesday night.

Former chairman John Bagguley, still a director of the club, was the man who appointed Tinsley back in 1992. He said: "This is very, very sad for the club. Alan was a very good appointment for us and we have been happy with everything he has done here, he has certainly taken us forward.

"We didn't want to lose him but we appreciate his personal circumstances at the moment. I think both parties have bent over backwards to try and keep him here but there comes a time when we have to accept his decision."

An official club statement read: "The club would like to say how sorry we are to have to accept Alan's resignation but we were left with no choice.

"We would like to put on record the wonderful job that Alan Tinsley has done here in his three-and-a-half years in charge of the team, helping to put Lancaster City back on the football map." Is Martin the man? BEFORE leaving, Alan Tinsley did recommend a name to the City board as his replacement - former club captain Martin Eatough.

Eatough, currently manager at Unibond First Division side Great Harwood Town, left the Blues towards the end of last season after a spell in which he had become a firm fans' favourite..

He didn't rule out a return to Giant Axe when we spoke to him this week but said: "I am completely surprised at the news that Alan has left. I was only talking to him a couple of weeks ago when City played Accrington Stanley and there was no mention of it. He did a great job for Lancaster."

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