DEPARTING manager Jeff Lamb said he has left Ascot United with some “unbelievable memories,” writes Dave Wright.

He quit the Hellenic League club on Saturday, along with his assistant, Paul McGrotty, and coach Derek Sweetman.

During their reign, the Yellamen enjoyed tremendous success, twice reaching the quarter-finals of the FA Vase, winning the Hellenic League Cup on two occasions and finishing in the top four of the league in three successive seasons.

“We leave with unbelievable memories,” said Lamb.

“We have enjoyed tremendous success over the years (since 2011) but, unfortunately, this season has not gone the way we wanted it to.”

The Ascot squad was ripped apart last summer with most of their key players being tempted away by neighbours Bracknell Town.

Lamb was forced to sign a whole host of new players to play alongside some of the club’s talented youngsters , but added: “Unfortunately, the commitment of players was poor.”

As a result, the team’s performances slumped and their 3-1 home defeat by Royal Wootton Bassett on Saturday means they have now gone 11 league and cup games without a win, leaving them down in 13th place in the table.

Lamb revealed that it was late November and early December when he, McGrotty and Sweetman decided it was time for them to stand down.

He continued: “We wanted to see December through as we had some big games coming up and were hopeful of getting points, but it didn’t go as we wanted it to with a lot of games seeing us concede last-minute goals.

“We gave some good performances and the youngsters should be proud of themselves,” he added.

Lamb, however, was left disappointed by United’s display on Saturday.

“It wasn’t the best of ways to finish,” he admitted.

“If I’m honest, it sums it up in the terms of the reason why we decided to call it a day “We didn’t see enough – in our last game you would expect a little bit more from us than what we got.

“But we are in a rut of losing anyway and when the second goal went in everyone’s head dropped.

“We needed people to lift up, roll their sleeves up and get in there, but that didn’t happen.”

Lamb was full of praise for the club’s officials ,saying: “They are lovely people who run the club well. I’ve got nothing but respect for them and I hope the club kicks on.”

As for his immediate future, Lamb said:”I am going to take a bit of time off with the family and then reassess what I am going to do. I am certainly not going shopping every Saturday and will be going around to matches. Hopefully, something will come up.”

Player-manager Lamb hopes he will continue to work with McGrotty and Sweetman.

“We have worked well as a team,” he said.

“With three, it can be perhaps awkward, but we have never had a bad word to say to each other, I love the guys to pieces.

“Hopefully, if I go elsewhere, we go as a trio to a new team and kick on.”

Ascot have replaced Lamb with their Ddirector of Ffootball, Neil Richards. He took over on Monday.

In 15 years at the club, he has undertaken a number of coaching and development roles across different age groups and has managed the Under-23 squad.

Also stepping up from the development squad to the first team are Jamie Tompkins, who becomes the new head coach, and physio Alexia Sawdon.

Ascot are without a game this weekend.