own chairman, Ken Davy, said: "I would like to thank John for all his hard work for both the first-team and the Academy, but it is important that we now look to the future to achieve our long-term aims.

"Both parties believed it was important that when the new manager is appointed, he has a clean slate and is able to shape his senior backroom staff himself. We would like to wish John all the best for the future.

"We are on the brink of our Centenary celebrations and of something very exciting. We have one of the greatest histories in English football and with our fabulous supporter base and enviable infrastructure we now need to look to the future."