Glenn Charker on his resignation as St Francis Rangers manager - “It was a very hard decision for me and one that I have not taken lightly”

Charker quit as Rangers boss at the weekend after the club finished 13th in division one of the Sussex County League.

He told Middy Sport: “It was a very hard decision for me and one that I have not taken lightly.

“I have been at the club for a long time and I have put so much effort into what we have done over the past three seasons, two of which alongside Geoff Pitcher as his Assistant which was a huge learning curve for me, then of course last season as the Manager, which was a rollercoaster!

“When you look back and reflect on the fact that when we took over we were sitting in the bottom three and for the last two seasons we have achieved sustainability in the top division of the SCFL and for me, that’s a huge achievement for this football club. It has to be said, this really is a very special club, unique in so many ways.”

But after achieiving consolidating in division, things have not gone quite the way Charker had hoped.

He said: “Unfortunately, things haven’t quite worked out as I had hoped on many levels and I don’t think it is right or fair to say what they are.

“But it was well documented how difficult the end of last season was for everyone at the club, particularly on a footballing front and I was very open when I said I was disappointed about the fashion that we finished the season – when you analyse the dropped points and missed opportunities you can’t help but kick yourself as we really were in a strong position for long periods of the season. In short, I feel like I have taken the team as far as I can.

“I have heavy work commitments currently and that is also compounding the strain and this is a job where you have to give 100% or nothing.”

Charker joined Rangers as a player at the start of the 2009/10 season from neighbours Hassocks. He was appointed assistant manager to Geoff Pitcher in October 2012 before being made manager. As a defender, he played 62 game for Rangers.

He said: “I’ve been lucky to have some fantastic people around me throughout my time at the club with Paul Thorpe giving me so much support since he came into the football club as my Assistant Manager in October last year, he’s been a rock and a great asset to the club.

“It is with some sadness, that I leave a lot of good people behind but I have to do what I felt was right and this is what I believe to be right for me. Who knows what’s next, but for now I will enjoy the break and my focus goes into other things.

“I won’t ever rule anything out because it’s a funny game football and I have made some good friends both inside St Francis and throughout the County League so who knows.

“I want to thank John Goss and the board at the football club for giving me the opportunity and their support throughout my time at the club but it just hasn’t worked out as I had hoped on many levels, I wish them all the best for the future.”

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