FORMER AFC Totton main sponsor Jim Fallon has resigned as vice-chairman of Blue Square Bet South strugglers Havant & Waterlooville.

His shock exit, after just seven months at Westleigh Park, comes after his Landford-based company, Beaumont Water Heaters Ltd, was liquidated.

A statement issued by Havant earlier today said: “It is with regret the board has to announce that following on from Beaumont Water Heaters Ltd entering into liquidation, the owner of that company, James Fallon, has subsequently decided to resign from the board and has left the club.

“As his agreed sponsorship deal remains unpaid, together with failing to meet his commitments to the club, Havant & Waterlooville Football Club has decided to remove all advertising logos and boards appertaining to Beaumont Water Heaters from the ground and playing kit.

“The board is unsurprisingly shocked, disappointed and let down by this whole situation.”

Fallon’s arrival at Havant in March followed an acrimonious departure from Totton whom had had first joined in September 2011 having personally donated £10,000 to become first-team shirt sponsor at the Testwood Stadium.

From November that year, he additionally funded the Stags to the tune of £2,400 a week, much of which went towards boosting then manager Stuart Ritchie’s playing squad in the quest for promotion from the Southern Premier.

On his departure from the Testwood Stadium in March, Fallon was highly critical of Totton’s executive committee, stating he had “very serious concerns” about the way they were running the club.

 But the Stags refused to be drawn into a public slanging match and kept a dignified silence.

Fallon was instrumental in Ritchie's appointment as Hawks manager during the summer, but the former Totton boss was relieved of his duties after just ten games.