Andy Paddock resigns from Wolves Sporting after historic season

Paddock resigned due to family and work commitments on the back of a stand-out season which saw them promoted to the Midland League Premier Division, writes Jamie Brassington.

He was at the helm of Sporting for three-and-a-half seasons but believes he has taken them as far as he can go.

Paddock said: “I have been thinking about stepping down for a bit.

“When I took over the club they were bottom of the league. Now we have won the league and I feel I have taken them as far as I can. I feel it is now the right time to step down and for somebody else to come in and build on what I have started.

“This role takes a lot of time and commitment and to be honest I am at work quite a lot and have family commitments.”

Sporting won the West Midlands League’s Premier Division and League Cup and they also made it to the final of the JW Hunt Cup where they narrowly missed out on a third piece of silverware after losing 1-0 to Atherstone.

Paddock thanked the club for their support and the players, who he called ‘an amazing group’ and believes they will surprise a few teams next season.

Sporting will be playing in the Midlands League after winning promotion from the West Midlands Regional League.

The club have now begun their search for a new manager.

A club spokesman said they were ‘disappointed’ to see Paddock step down.

In a statement, the club said: “We cant thank ‘Wokko’ enough for everything he has done in the last three-and-a-half seasons.

"We would like to wish ‘Wokko’ all the best and thank him for all his hard work and dedication over the last three-and-a-half seasons and he will always be welcomed back at Sporting.”

“We are now inviting applications for the vacant first team managers position which are to be sent to wolvessporting@yahoo.co.uk.”

Paddock took over Sporting midway through the 2014/15 season when they were struggling near the relegation places. He guided them to a 16th-place finish.

The following season they finished fourth and had their first ever FA Cup appearance, alongside reaching the League Cup and JW Hunt Cup finals. And in 2016/17 they came third in the league as part of their transformation under Paddock.

Then this season they won the league and league cup in a historic double and they also reached the last 16 of the FA Vase.

Paddock says he won’t be going to another club and doesn’t have any offers lined up.

Instead he wants to take a break from football before deciding on his next move.