Sidmouth Town are reeling from the news that team boss Richard Pears has left Manstone Lane for pastures new.

The former Exeter City player who has had spells os management in recent years with Exmouth Town, Axminster Town, Barnstaple Town and the Vikings, arrived at Manstone Lane during the close season and made an immediate impact, leading the side into the FA Vase for the first time in the club’s history and seeing them record splendid wins at two higher level clubs before bowing out of the competition on Saturday, beaten 5-0 at Western League Premier Division Cadbury Heath.

Buckland Athletic play in the same league as Cadbury Heath, indeed they currently sit 10th, two places better off than the Bristol-based side having so far accumulated 13 points from 10 games with four wins, a draw and five defeats.

Sidmouth Town Football Club issued a statement on Sunday evening that read: ‘Sidmouth Town AFC regrets to announce that Richard Pears has resigned from the position of first team manager with immediate effect. He will be moving to Buckland Athletic to take up a similar position. The chairman and committee are disappointed that Richard has decided to move on after such a brief time with the club. During his period in charge Richard has achieved a great deal by bringing in new and experienced players, working and supporting the club’s policy of developing youth and local players and steering the club to three rounds of the Buildbase FA Vase and a strong position in the league. The club would like to thank Richard for his efforts over the last few months and wish him well in his new role.’

The first game for Town in the post Richard Pears era is Saturday’s (October 20) Walter C Parsons Trophy home game against an Axminster Town side who will have in their dugout Josh Stunell who is now the Tigers’ joint boss. It was Stunell who managed Sidmouth Town before Richard Pears took charge at the start of the current season.

We will bring you more on this matter, particularly with regard to what happens next at Manstone Lane – and we shall have an interview with Richard Pears – as the day develops.