LUDGVAN boss Richard Luff resigned as manager of the Fairfield outfit after Saturday's defeat at Holmans, writes Peter Heyman.

But his departure from the club has nothing to do with his side's performances on the pitch in the Jolly's Combination League, where they are currently lying third from bottom.

Rather they are due solely to his concerns over his future employment. As an employee of the Cornwall Fire Service working in the call centre at Truro, he has recently been asked to re-apply for his job prior to a reorganisation of the service and possible relocation to Taunton.

"Obviously I have to concentrate all my energies on trying to safeguard my current job," he told me on Saturday. "This means that I have had to resign as Ludgvan manager, which is a great disappointment to me.

"I love the club and it pains me to have to leave, but I've really got no alternative."

Club secretary Sue Rowe, speaking on behalf of the committee, was understanding of the reasons behind Luff's departure.

She said: "We would all like to wish Richard all the best of luck in his difficult work situation and thank him for the hard work he has put into the club. It's such a shame that he has had to leave just when he was making good progress with team building."

Anthony Hosking and Nigel Prior, who have recently been helping Luff with the first team, have agreed to take over the vacant post on a caretaker basis so that the club can maintain some continuity in its bid to move away from the relegation zone.