DANNY Bowers has confirmed he is no longer manager of Folland Sports.

Bowers was forced to hand over the reins to his trusty right-hand man Dave Lewis earlier this year due to ill health and submitted his resignation in February.

The club kept it low key, hoping he might change his mind when he was feeling better. But Bowers, one of the most enthusiastic managers on the Sydenhams Premier scene, confirmed this week that his decision is final.

“There’s never a good time to say you’re leaving and I’m sorry to be going, but sometimes you have to look after yourself,” he said.

“When I was poorly, Dave was keeping me involved and asking me what team I’d pick.

“Me and Dave have worked, played and managed together for 20 years and it wasn’t fair on him having me pick the team from hospital. I thought it was better for him and the club if Dave took the side until the end of the season.

“Dave was totally against it and said he’d look after things until I came back but, as time went on, I had less and less desire to return.

“The club always knew I’d intended to go at the end of the season anyway. Everything comes to an end eventually.”

For the best part of a decade, Bowers has been the life and soul of Follands Park, leading them back up from Sydenhams One towards a best-ever third in the Premier last year.

“We’ve signed some fantastic footballers over the years and I’ve worked with some great people,” he said.

“We’ve not won anything, but collectively we’ve achieved really good things for a club of this size. Going back eight or nine years we were holding the table up, but now Follands is a fully established Wessex League club.”

Lewis is also leaving at the end of the season to take a year out from football and Bowers will do all he can to help Follands find a suitable replacement.

“I don’t want them to become whipping boys again, I worship them too much,” he said.

Inevitably the uncertainty generated by Bowers’ departure and the club’s future in general has taken its toll on results with the Planemakers slipping out of title contention into eighth.

“If they can stay top-eight it doesn’t bode too badly for when they’re looking for a new manager,” said Bowers.

“But they need someone who can bring players with them because people do tend to play for managers rather than clubs.

“I’ll do all I can to make sure it’s handed over with the least disruption possible.

“My dad, Gilly, is staying on as vice-chairman and I’m happy about that. He says he can’t just let it all go.”

Follands, who travel to Whitchurch tomorrow, have lost highly-rated centre-back Matt Burt to Division One leaders Team Solent.

Solent – home to Pewsey Vale tomorrow - opened a seven-point gap at the summit with a 3-2 midweek win over New Milton – Jermal Frederick, Jesse Lassen and Rafael Williams da Costa the scorers.