PICKERING Town have parted company with manager Paul Marshall, with chairman Wayne Taylor stressing that Evo-Stik League survival must be the club’s priority.

Taylor insisted the Pikes board did not doubt Marshall’s abilities, though they felt a fresh approach could be what is needed.

Marshall left the club by mutual consent on Thursday morning. Assistant manager Denny Ingram will fill the vacancy until the end of the season, starting with Saturday’s east division home clash with Ossett United.

Arguably Pickering’s most successful manager ever, Marshall guided the Pikes to Step 4 for the first time in their history after finishing runners-up in the Northern Counties East League premier division last season, and led an FA Trophy run that was stopped agonisingly short of the first round proper.

In the league, however, the Pikes have struggled this term, sitting two points above the relegation zone after Tuesday’s 3-1 home defeat to AFC Mansfield.

Taylor said: “Our run of form and league position is not where we wanted to be at this moment in time of the season. We had a good chat and decided that the club needed an injection to freshen it up a little bit.

“It’s not something nice. Paul has become a good friend of mine, and he’s the most successful manager the club has ever had.

“He’s done a fantastic job and he has been a very, very good manager for the football club.

“He has always been a positive manager - you’ve got to be positive because it’s what people work off - but our league performances at the moment aren’t good enough and the last thing I want is for Pickering Town Football Club to go back down to the Northern Counties East League.

“I’m not saying Paul isn’t the man to keep us up but, in anything in life, an injection can be what you need to push you over the finishing line.

“It’s not something you take lightly. He has been an absolute gentleman and a fantastic manager.

“But we both felt it was time for him to step aside and see if we can get some wins now with an injection.

“Looking at the league position as chairman, you think you have to start winning games. The football club is bigger than myself or Paul.

“I have lots of praise for Paul and for his time with us. He has been a fantastic manager, and a successful manager, but at the moment, myself and the committee decided that things need freshening up.

“Paul is still a very good friend of mine, and it will stay that way.

“My main objective now is to get three points on Saturday and get out of the sticky situation we’re in.”

Marshall joined Pickering from Tadcaster Albion before the start of the 2015/16 NCEL premier division season, which the Pikes would finish sixth.

The following campaign, Marshall guided Town to second in the table, the second round proper of the FA Vase and to the final of the North Riding County FA Senior Cup final, where they lost 3-1 to Whitby Town.

Last year’s milestone campaign, Pickering went up on the very last day, beating Hall Road Rangers 2-1 to pip Mansfield to what was thought to be the final promotion slot.