Bridgnorth Town’s preparations for the new football season were thrown out of kilter today with the shock resignation of manager Julian Marsh.The Crown Meadow men were looking forward to their first season back in the Alliance after running away with the Sport Italia West Midlands League last season.

But Marsh confirmed his resignation today – just two days before their first game – citing “a few things that weren’t right, and haven’t been for a few months.”

“There were a few things I haven’t been happy with for a long time so I thought it was best we went our separate ways,” said Marsh.

“I’ve had a great three-and-a-half years at the club and enjoyed all of it.

“They’ve got a great bunch of players there and I’m sure they’ll be alright.

“I want to get back into football and, while I’ve got no plans now, if I was offered something then I would seriously consider it.”

Club chairman Eric Eagles was today hurriedly trying to put plans in place to have someone in charge for Saturday’s first game of the season away to Racing Club Warwick.

He admitted the timing of the news could hardly have been much worse.

“It would have been better if this had happened three, four, five weeks ago but there’s not a lot I can do about it,” he said.

“Julian told me last night he was considering it and he rang me this morning to say he didn’t want to carry on.

“A lot of it is to do with the lack of expenses to bring players in. We’re on a very tight budget for travel and so on, and we can’t compete with some of the other sides in the league.

“Every football manager wants the best for his players but we haven’t got the money to fund everything he would like. It’s disappointing but we have to get on with it.”