The fact Wivenhoe Town are facing a "meaningless" season in the Ryman League next year is already having an impact on the division two club.

Former co-managers Julian Hazel and Joff March have already left.

Both were offered the vacant manager's job following the resignation of Steve Pitt, who has become Steve Dowman's assistant at premier division Heybridge Swifts.

But the pair decided to quit when they learned Wivenhoe were not prepared to offer the budget they required for players for the forthcoming season.

March said: "The situation was untenable. When we first took over we knew we had a limited budget but we expected that to build over the three years we have been with the club. Next season is going to be a strange one."

That is because the Ryman League is being restructured. The premier division will remain the same, but divisions one and two will be regionalised into division ones north and south from the start of the 2002-03 season.

The new division two will be made up of the former division three.

All clubs in division two will automatically be promoted at the end of the season, so effectively the year will consist of 42 friendlies for each club.

March added: "Wivenhoe have decided to use the time for consolidation. My heart is at Wivenhoe, but the circumstances have dictated I have to leave."

Club chairman Kevin Foskett, who failed in a campaign to bring the restructuring into force this season, said: "We have taken a commercial decision and we will not be the only club in division two doing so.

"It's going to be a meaningless season so why throw pennies at it? We reckon we'll lose a percentage of our gate anyway because people won't turn up to see what amounts to a friendly.

"I fully understand Julian and Joff's reasons not to be at the helm.They have both been tremendous servants of the club. Julian still has a commercial value as a player, and we have a contract with him until 2003.

"But we will not be looking for a transfer fee when he leaves the club because of his loyalty to us over the past few years. We wish him well and the door is always open for a return in the future.

"The other players we have on contract - Kevin Hughes, Danny Roberts, Steve Henson and Robert May - are all up for sale.

"They will be allowed to leave because, since they signed contracts, the goalposts have been moved because of the restructuring.

"We don't want to stand in the way of any player who wants to play in a competitive league this season, but obviously we would love them to stay."

Already, Hazel, who scored more than 100 goals in just over 200 games for Wivenhoe, is considering offers from Harwich and Parkeston, Clacton Town, Heybridge and Witham Town.

Foskett, meanwhile, hopes the existing players will return the loyalty he has shown them and rejoin Wivenhoe for the start of the following season.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.