TIVIDALE boss Ian Long says he felt he had to resign from the club after having next season's budget slashed in half.

Long admits it was a hard choice after two successful seasons at the helm, but underlined his need to be somewhere that matches his ambition.

The boss at the Beeches will stay in his role until after the club's JW Hunt Cup Final against Stone Old Alleynians at Molineux on Thursday, May 21.

Assistant manager Richard Colwell, first team coach Richard Upton and goalkeeping Coach Chris Walwyn will also be leaving following a meeting with club officials on Thursday night.

Long said: "I felt I had to resign after I was told my budget would be cut in half.

"My ambition was to kick on with Tividale and try and make the play-offs next season if we could bring in a couple of additions, but we won't be able to do that now.

"It is a shame because we have had a great few years together and I wouldn't say it has ended badly between me and the club either. This is not what I wanted but we already had the smallest budget in the league and now it will be slashed again.

"How can I tell the players, who have done brilliantly this year, that we will be giving them less? Many of them already turned down bigger offers last season to be a part of what we were doing.

"I want to manage at the highest level possible and need to be somewhere that matches that ambition. It's not that Tividale won't match that, they simple can't.

"I totally understand their position, they have to do what is right for the club. That is the most important thing.

"I do fear for the club a little bit now because it is difficult for them financially. It may also be difficult to keep a lot of the players."

Long said he is now fully focused on ending the season with one more piece of silverware before moving on.

"Everything will continue as normal. We want to defend our JW Hunt Cup title," he added.

"I do want to get straight back into management and will be on the look out for a club that can match my ambition as soon as possible."