STOTFOLD Football Club lost their new manager before a ball was kicked in anger this season. Former Arlesey Athletic boss Glen Clark, appointed at Roker Park earlier in the summer, resigned less than 24 hours before Saturday s opening league clash. Coach

STOTFOLD Football Club lost their new manager before a ball was kicked in anger this season.

Former Arlesey Athletic boss Glen Clark, appointed at Roker Park earlier in the summer, resigned less than 24 hours before Saturday's opening league clash.

Coach Ian Williscroft and reserve team boss Terry Kitchener have stepped in to take temporary charge.

Clark said: "I had a discussion with the chairman (Phil Pateman) and decided to resign after that. I won't give my reasons for stepping down."

Pateman responded by saying: "I was very surprised and really gobsmacked to be honest.

"The committee had no real knowledge that he was struggling.

"The pre-season results have been okay and we knew it was going to be a difficult season.

"We knew Glen was relatively inexperienced and it's our intention to play local youngsters in the side this season.

"He was under no pressure and we're disappointed he took the decision he did.

"But I respect his decision and that he did it now rather than wait until later in the season.

"At least we've still got nearly the whole season ahead of us."

Pateman added that two people are already interested in the position and a decision is expected in early September.

Stotfold's new-look side showed good character in coming from two goals down to share the points at home to Bourne on Saturday after the managerial upheaval.

The visitors scored twice in three minutes midway through the first period.

Miles Mason got both, first beating Nigel Blower with a shot and then heading in from close range from Robbie Pearce's corner.

Stotfold's one moment of threat saw a good penalty shout denied after sub Ian Thorne was bundled off the ball by Pearce.

They pulled a goal back on 64 minutes when great passing and movement down the left ended in Craig Reynolds cutting the ball back for Thorne to slot home.

Bourne hit the woodwork a minute later and this was crucial as Stotfold levelled 12 minutes from time.

Reynolds displayed good footwork to create room for himself and his shot beat keeper Ben Derbyshire.

Stotfold could have grabbed all three points as Shaun Turner's shot came back off the bar, Marc Holmes shot straight at the keeper and Richard Beckett headed just wide from a Ryan Nichol free-kick.

Rokermen: Blower, Rennie, Diplock (Mitchell 81), Taylor (Drury 54), Geraghty, Nichol, Downham (Thorne 17), Beckett, Holmes, Reynolds, Turner.

P Stotfold have added an under-16 squad to their Academy this season.

Coach Gordon Bickerstaff previously managed the Letchworth GC Eagles under-eights to under-15s.

He decided to bring his team to Stotfold's Academy in the search of a stronger challenge in the Eastern Junior Alliance League and progression to senior football.

Eagles previously won several league titles including the league and cup double last season.

To welcome this new team, consisting of previous Eagles and some new faces, Bickerstaff has secured a pre-season friendly against Luton Town next Thursday (August 24) at Roker Park, 7.30pm kick-off.

Anyone wishing to contact the Academy can do so by emailing on academy@stotfoldfc.co.uk