Lee Carter will still be main man at AFC Telford United

Just a day after Roberto Di Matteo's short but successful spell as Chelsea manager came to a finish, the end of another arguably just as successful reign – albeit in very different circumstances and at a very different level of football – was announced.

Bucks chairman Lee Carter will remain working at the heart of AFC Telford, retaining his role as managing director.

But when he relinquishes the role of chairman at the end of the season, it will bring to a close a hugely eventful and satisfying eight-year run in the position.

When he took over the reins in the aftermath of the old Telford United's demise, following the collapse of the previous chairman Andy Shaw's business empire, the future was very uncertain.

He unarguably leaves the role with the club in a much, much better position, and with the promise of further success in the future to boot.

The move is part of a re-structuring of the club designed to strengthen its push towards the Football League.

At the demise of the club's previous incarnation as Telford United, they had been in the top flight of English non-league football.

Following its re-birth as AFC Telford United, led by the supporters trust, Telford United Supporters Ltd, Carter faced the daunting task of dragging a new club back up three divisions to its once proud position.

There were no guarantees of success when the Bucks' first manager Bernard McNally was appointed to help plot the first part of that difficult journey.

What happened next needs no introduction but seven years, three promotions, and a further two managerial changes later, the Bucks were back where their predecessor had once been.

In their first season, the new club finished third in the Unibond Northern Premier League Division One and beat Kendal Town in the play-off final to gain promotion.

Two seasons later, AFC Telford United again finished third, but this time in the Unibond Northern Premier League Premier Division.

They went on to gain promotion to the Blue Square Bet North League by beating Witton Albion 3-1 in the play-off final.

The final chapter in the club's return to non-league's top table was sealed well ahead of schedule in the most dramatic fashion by Phil Trainer's remarkable late winner in the 2011 Blue Square Bet North play-off final against Guiseley.

Survival in the Blue Square Bet Premier League last season represented another step forward and it is Carter's, and the club's, desire to continue to keep doing so that appears to have promoted his impending step down.

As the official statement this morning explained, the club has grown to such an extent since 2004 that the demands of fulfilling the roles of managing director and chairman have become too much for one man.

Trust Chairman, David Embery said: "Lee has such an important part to play in the future of the club and it is important he is not swamped by two roles."

The impending appointment of a new chairman working alongside Carter seems to represent another step forward for the club and hopefully the continuation of the success story.

Indeed, the man himself has stressed that his decision to step down as chairman is 'by no means a crisis' but rather the next step in re-structuring an evolving club.

Carter has spoken both at the end of last season and the start of this one, about the need to keep pushing forward.

In April he said the club would have to 'become braver' both on and off the field if they wanted to survive in the Blue Square Premier again this season.

The construction of arguably the club's most talented playing squad over the summer has seen the Bucks make that step on the field, with the team so far defying the 'relegation favourites' tag bestowed on it by the bookmakers in pre-season.

And Carter has said his decision to step down as chairman is a step forward off the pitch.

He said: "This is a very important development for the business and I have indicated that this is the right time to get moving on this particular issue.

"I remain fully committed to the club and am absolutely determined to play my part in ensuring that we continue to move forward."