TADCASTER ALBION will not have long-serving boss Paul Marshall at the helm next season.

Club owners i2i have opted not to renew his contract after seven years as manager following a season where the Ings Lane outfit finished third in the Northern Counties East League premier division.

A statement from the directors said: “This is by far the toughest decision we’ve had to make since we took over Tadcaster Albion in 2013.

“We are close personal friends with Paul and we recognise what a great man and football manager he is, but we’ve discussed it at length and we feel it is the right decision for the club – even though, deep down, we were hoping it wouldn’t end this way.”

Marshall has been offered a "senior role" within the club and he said: "I’ve had seven great years with Tadcaster Albion, which is a long time to stay at a club.

“It’s been a pleasure to manage the club and to see it rise from the ashes. Through the great work of Kevin Derry and Rob Northfield, and then moving on to i2i, it’s been an amazing journey.

“I’d like to thank all of the players, coaches and everyone behind the scenes for their commitment to the club, and to me as a manager during my time at the club.

“It’s a shame that i2i have had to make this decision, but I completely understand why they have made it because we’ve come up a little bit short of late.

“Even though it was perhaps our most successful season ever, we haven’t met the targets that we set ourselves at the start of the season.

“I just hope that the dedicated group of fans we have amassed over the last few years carry on and grow in numbers, and make Tadcaster the best supported team in Step 5.”