THE man who has guided Sholing to the Wessex League title and this weekend's FA Vase final is stepping down at the end of the season.

Dave Diaper, who also doubles up as the club's chairman, has been manager since the summer of 2000.

But ahead of the Vase final against West Auckland at Wembley, Diaper has announced he will concentrate on building the club off the pitch when they return to Division 1 (South & West) of the Calor Gas Southern League in 2014/15.

Sholing are aiming to become only the third Wessex League club to lift the Vase, after Wimborne in 1992 and Winchester City in 2004.

  • Don't miss this Friday's Southern Daily Echo for a great souvenir supplement celebrating Sholing's Wembley appearance.