BROMSGROVE Sporting manager Paul Smith has revealed he will resign at the end of the season despite the club being on track for promotion from the Midland League Premier Division.

Contract talks broke down between Smith and club officials with the Sporting boss claiming "a massive gulf in our thoughts on how to take the club forwards".

But chairman Mike Burke insisted Smith had not told him "whether he was unhappy or what he was unhappy with" at the second-placed outfit.

The Sporting manager said on Twitter ahead of today's home match with AFC Wulfrunians: "It's with an extremely heavy heart I tell you at the end of the season I will be standing down as manager of the football club."

He continued: “I will go with the knowledge that for as long as I have been with the club I have given it my all on and the off pitch.

“A record on the pitch second to none and efforts off it to boost the profile of the club and encourage you fans back, all this without any recompense.

"The last 12 months have proved the most challenging since I started in the non-league game some 24 years ago."

Smith added: “The club is desperate for new investment, new ideas and a clear and professional vision of how to go forward, then people with the correct skills to implement the strategies.

“These people are out there, these people want to come in. Unfortunately for reasons only known by a select few they are not being brought in.

"If it wasn't for the unbelievable support I have received from you all (the fans) I would have stood down this week."

Smith stated he would release a full statement at the season's end detailing why he is standing down.

Burke has called a board meeting on Monday to discuss Smith's comments.