TAVISTOCK AFC has, with regret, announced the resignation of one half of its Carlsberg South West Peninsula Premier side’s management team.

After just 12 matches at the helm, Stewart Cawte has elected to stand down from his role, leaving Stuart Henderson to run the first team by himself for the time being.

This was a particularly difficult decision for Stewart to make, in his first season of Step 6 football jointly running a competitive team at a club into which he has invested a great deal of time and effort.

A club spokesman said: ‘Certainly Stewart should be credited for his efforts during pre-season where blood, sweat and tears were shed behind the scenes as he helped to prepare Langsford Park for the season ahead, as well as working around the clock alongside Stuart Henderson to craft a new-look side capable of mixing it with the established Premier division front runners.’

On his decision to stand down, Stewart said: ‘This is not a decision I have taken lightly. I was honoured to be given the opportunity to test myself at another level, having spent so many years learning the ropes, most recently in the East Cornwall Premier League.

‘There are no short-cuts to running a competitive side in this league and following a fairly dramatic change in my work commitments, where I am now spending a significant part of each week hundreds of miles from home, I know that it simply isn’t possible to give the club and players the time needed to continue developing the first team alongside Stuart.

‘And whilst I have a big job on my hands for the next few months outside of football, I look forward to being able to return at some point in the future to help where I can, joining the small army of dedicated, and often unsung, volunteers who have made my life easier and more enjoyable during my time at the club.

‘I would like to put on record my sincere gratitude and thanks to Craig Smith, Henry and Julie, John Hutton, Richard Daw, Derek Pethick, the “young bunch” morning crew, Yvonne Pethick, Eric Pinch, Andrea Cawte, Andy Meeds and Chris Fenner, who have supported me throughout.

‘Finally, I’d like to wish the players, Ken and Stuart all the best for the season and hope that they will fulfill their potential as a dominant force in this league for years to come.’

Club chairman Chris Fenner added: ‘I’m gutted to lose Stewart so early into the season, but completely understand his reasons. He knows that the door is always open and I suspect that this is not the last we will see of him at Langsford Park.  I’m very grateful for his commitment and honesty and the foundation he and Stuart have built for the season ahead.

‘Having lost a couple of managers in relatively close succession, I now urge those who love the Club to pull together more tightly than ever, getting behind both teams and their management to ensure that we can turn adversity into motivation to continue pushing the club forward toward a brighter future.’