WITH his team relegated from the Southern League Premier Division, Neil Hards confirmed his resignation as Cirencester Town's manager and expressed his belief that his successor should be a local man.

Hards, 45, who has commuted from his home in Portsmouth, has used his South Coast contacts to bring several players to Cirencester from that part of the country.

He said he informed the players of his resignation before last Saturday's 2-0 home defeat against Banbury United, which confirmed Town's relegation.

Hards said: "It needs someone more local, someone who can go and look at local football matches.

"It needs someone who can probably commit to a bit more training.

"I can honestly say I've given it as much time and dedication as I can but it's difficult for me to spend another two or three days up in the area.

"They asked me to carry on and have another crack at it but it's in the best interests of the football club that I leave and they appoint somebody a lot more local.

"My intention was never to come here, be here nine months and go. It was an experiment that was tried and has not worked out. Nobody is as disappointed as me; I'm absolutely gutted.

"I don't regret taking the job on. There's a lot of good people at this football club. I've had fantastic backing from the chairman; I couldn't have worked with a nicer guy.

"It's a lovely family-run club and it is strong and will hopefully bounce back."

Hards replaced Brian Hughes who resigned as Cirencester's manager at the end of the 2005-2006 season, in which Town narrowly avoided relegation.

Hards' football career started when, shortly after leaving school, he joined Plymouth Argyle as an apprentice and spent five and a half years as a professional goalkeeper there.

He was transferred to Gloucester City, where he spent two years before moving to Cheltenham Town, where he also spent two years.

At Cheltenham, he met Steve Abbley, then a fellow professional player but now Cirencester's chairman.

He also played for Waterlooville and Havant on the South Coast, Newport on the Isle of White and Newport in Wales.

A knee injury ended his playing career in 2000.

Having become Winchester's assistant manager in 2002, he was appointed manager a year later and guided the club to unprecedented success.

In his first season, they won 37 and drew one of their 38 games.

Winning the Hampshire League and Cup, they were promoted to the Wessex League where they won their second successive double by taking the League Championship and the 2004 FA Vase.

The builder was taking a sabbatical from football when Steve Abbley asked him if he would be interested in filling Cirencester's managerial vacancy.