THE weight of two demoralising defeats has taken its toll on Jim Macey.

The Petersfield Town boss has quit Love Lane in the wake of crushing 7-0 and 10-0 losses to Hamble Club and Blackfield & Langley respectively in the Sydenhams Premier Division.

Former Whitchurch and Amesbury boss Macey had only been at the helm since May, taking over in the wake of Town’s dismal relegation from the Southern One Central.

He oversaw a big overhaul of the playing staff during the summer and, just prior to the Hamble defeat, had led the Rams to a breakthrough 4-1 success over Amesbury – Petersfield’s first league win since November last year.

That, however, was to be his only league victory in charge and he leaves the club sitting fourth to bottom of the Wessex top flight ahead of tonight’s Hampshire FA Senior Cup tie at Newport IW.

Chairman Graeme Moir is backing the players to turn Petersfield's fortunes around.

He said: “We have plenty of talent in the squad and we just need to believe in ourselves going forward.

“Confidence will be hit by the recent heavy defeats and Jim Macey deciding to leave the club, but that is all in the past now.

"We can’t change history, we can only shape the future and that is where all of our focus now needs to be.

“A couple of positive results and things will look very different in a few weeks.”