Express & Star

Ian Long reign comes to an end at Tividale

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Outgoing Tividale boss Ian Long revealed he is 'devastated' at leaving the Beeches as he agreed to take up the reins in the league below at Alvechurch.

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Long's two-year stint with the club will come to an end after they attempt to defend their JW Hunt title against Stone Old Alleynians at Molineux next Thursday.

And the former-Tipton Town manager revealed the budget deficit was the ultimate reason behind his resignation.

He's now going to drop down a level to join the Midlands League Premier Division side, who have just finished 15th in the table.

Long said: "First things first, the club comes first, and they approached us explaining that the club were in financial trouble.

"We learned that the playing budget would be cut in half. That is simply not a competitive budget at this level.

"We managed to finish eighth in our first season in the Evo-Stik Division One South – with the smallest budget.

"But I'm gutted, the whole coaching staff (who all resigned alongside Long) are devastated, leaving was the last thing we wanted to do.

"The players have done an absolutely superb job this season, proven themselves at this level and for them to take an even further significant playing cut would be unacceptable – I just couldn't bring myself to do that."

The boss, affectionately known as 'Pee Wee' by his players, said his tenure has been far from dull.

"It's been a busy two years, promotion from the Midlands Prem as champions, passing the ground grading last year, winning the JW Hunt cup, having a magnificent season in the Evo-Stik league, failing the ground grading recently, passing the appeal at Wembley and now to finish it back at the Molineux with another final," he said.

"I've never experienced anything like the spirit, relationship and togetherness here, in my whole time in football. None of them are here for the money, they could've gone last season for higher offers.

"We are definitely even more driven to winning this cup and putting on a performance now."