Liam Watson has resigned as manager of Southport after a meeting with Chairman Charlie Clapham today.
With the club moving to full time status over the summer Watson, who remained part-time and had a career outside football, and Clapham agreed that it was unsuitable to have a part-time manager controlling a full-time squad.
The official Southport site quotes Clapham as saying: "This has been a sad day. Liam remains my friend but we both recognised a part time manager in a full time club was not going to work no matter how we tried to look at it. I have the highest regard for Liam. He can be very proud of his achievements at Haig Avenue. I respect Liam's decision and Liam has recognised in his own mind what would benefit the club the most and that was a full time manager. It has been a painful decision for all of us. As a club we will have to manage a major transition from part time to full time and that is a demanding full time role. The timing was right for the future of the club and Liam knew that. It is rare to have a managerial change in such amicable circumstances. "