PHILL Cooper has resigned as joint manager at Denton Town with Dave Pollard taking sole charge at Whittles Park.
Cooper, 30, informed the club he was standing down on Sunday (Jan 23), the day after Town lost 1-0 at Styal.
After two-and-a-half years in joint control, Cooper said: “People asked me if it was because of Saturday’s loss which was not the case.
“It was not a bad performance and, had we not missed chances, it might have been a different story before they nicked a goal in the last 10 minutes.
“I have no plans to go back into football management and want a complete break and some time to myself. It is a decision which is best for myself and the club.
“I am handing over to someone who can hopefully finish the season well and build for next season.”
Cooper believes Town, eighth in division one of the Cheshire Football League, can finish in the top six, though promotion has almost certainly slipped away.
Pollard, who joined Town in October 2020 as assistant manager before stepping up to joint manager after Darren Green’s departure, admitted to being “shocked” to learn of Cooper’s resignation.
He said there will be no great upheaval, explaining: “Phil and I shared ideas and had quite similar philosophes about how we wanted to play so there will not be a lot of changes.
“I am happy with the group of players we have and want continuity, to finish the season strongly and have a real go next season.”
Pollard, 33, from Stalybridge, does not come from a playing background but managing in Sunday football.
He said: “Liam Ellis, one my Sunday players, also turned out for Town so I used to go and watch him.
“When Phill was looking for a coach, he invited me down on a trial basis initially and that is how it began.”
It has been an inconsistent start to 2022 for Town which has mirrored their season.
They began the year losing to Abacus Media in the semi finals of the Manchester FA Challenge Trophy.
The match finished goalless after 90 minutes with Town losing 4-3 on penalties.
They recovered from that setback with a fabulous 4-1 win at Holmes Chapel with goals from Luke Cotton (2), Bateson Caylem and Reece Skelton.
Town, who have just lost utility player Marcello Arhin who has joined North West Counties League side Chadderton, were unable to build on that win with Saturday’s defeat at Styal.
Pollard, who will be assisted by first-team coach Sam Rhodes, has a tough start as Town visit Blacon, who have lost only two league games, on Saturday (Jan 29) and then are at home to Styal in the League Cup on February 5 and home to second-placed Winnington Park Avenue on February 12.
Cooper, a former centre half who was an academy at Burnley until the age of 16, will not be leaving Town, despite his resignation as joint manager.
He said: “The club has plans for various things off the field which I am part of.
“They do not want me to walk away, and I will still be part of them moving forward without the responsibilities of management. I will still be around the club on matchdays and helping to raise funds.”
Cooper, played for Town as well as Abbey Hey and East Manchester, retiring aged 26. He cited as never being the same player after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his late teens.