After three-and-a-half years in charge of Whitchurch Alport, manager Luke Goddard has decided to hand over the reins to Matt Burton.

Burton, the former FC Oswestry Town boss, was announced as joint manager last week, but Goddard did not want his decision to be sensationalised as he felt the club were in transition and that stepping aside was all part of his bigger vision for the club.

Goddard’s boots will be huge ones to fill; since joining Alport in May 2016, Goddard has completely revolutionised Alport, taking them from the bottom of the First Division to a comfortable position in the Premier.

A play-off final win against Cammell Lairds last year attracted over 700 supporters to Yockings and last season brought two trophies, with the Ethelston Cup retained before a penalty shootout victory in the Huddersfield Cup final against Market Drayton.

Goddard said he felt the time was right to step down and said he is doing it for the good of the club.

“It would have been nice to have gone at the end of the season but now is the right time and I wanted to keep it nice and simple and hand over the managerial duties so that I can concentrate on other things at the club,” he said.

“I will still be around but not having to deal with the daily grind of messaging players and sorting the team out.

“I’m doing this for the good of the club and it will be nice to concentrate on playing even though it might be difficult keeping my mouth shut in the dressing room!

“Burts is a manager in his own right and I wanted to drop the joint manager thing and just allow him to take charge.

“He’s a good guy and I’ll support him in whatever decisions he makes irrespective of what my own opinion might be.”