Southport have announced that manager John Coleman has left the club.
The Sandgrounders avoided relegation by only two points, with Coleman replacing Alan Wright in December after a run of six straight losses. A club statement suggests that both the club and Coleman had reasons behind today's split:
'John Coleman has made it clear that at his age of 52 he feels he should be managing in the Football League, and by his short management spell at Southport he has put himself back in the shop window. Everyone at Southport wishes him good luck as he pursues his managerial career that has seen him manage both Accrington Stanley and Rochdale in the Football League.
John, in the local press, has questioned passionately whether he should be in football due to his stance with referees and assistants. This style of touchline behaviour has found the club in somewhat of a quandary regarding the FA Respect campaign and attracting a family audience.'
Coleman's assistant Jimmy Bell has also left the club.