A SEARCH for a new manager is underway at Buckland Athletic after Paul Froude stepped down from his role last week.

The club announced that Froude would be leaving Homers Heath following the 5-1 Western League defeat at home to Mousehole on Saturday.

He departs having led the club on its joint best FA Vase run to date earlier this season. They currently sit 13^th in the table.

‘I’ve really enjoyed my time at the club,’ said Froude in a statement released on Sunday afternoon. ‘I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for all of their help and assistance during my time at Buckland Athletic.

‘It really has been a privilege to manage the club and I wish nothing but success to everyone involved.’

Froude had been at the helm since December 2019, when he made the short trip across town from Peninsula League side Newton Abbot Spurs.

His first two seasons in charge were heavily disrupted by coronavirus, with Buckland sitting ninth in the standings when the 2020/21 campaign was shelved.

‘I know I speak for everyone at the club when I say Paul will be greatly missed,’ said Bucks director of football Adam Castle.

‘He has done a great job since coming in and to be honest it’s a bit of a shock that he has stepped down.

‘Having said that, people don’t realise what it takes to be a manager at this level. Paul is a family man and also a director of the family business, so when you consider everything you have to admire Paul’s honesty in saying that he feels the time is right to go.

‘Paul gave everyone at the club some great days, including this season with the FA Vase run. I was at the home tie versus Falmouth Town and the club was absolutely buzzing that day. That was all down to Paul.

‘I would also like to thank Danny Gaze [former assistant], Nick Milton [assistant], Steve Giles [assistant] and Paige Burrows [physio] for all their help and support given to Paul during his time in charge.

‘We wish Paul well for the future and we will welcome him at Homers Heath anytime he feels like taking in a game.’

Assistant manager Milton is due to take the team for tonight’s St Luke’s Challenge Cup semi-final away at Bideford (7.45pm).

The interim boss will be without the services of Ollie Aplin, Luis Edmondson and JJ Evans, who are all cup-tied – as well as Nick Milton Jnr, who is working.

Newton Abbot Spurs duo Alfie Tucker and Harry Ford, who began the campaign at Homers Heath, will travel to North Devon with the squad.

‘It is a tough game with confidence down in the squad,’ Milton admitted. ‘But we’ll regroup, and if we go up there and get something out of it then that would be brilliant.

‘Bideford may well go into it expecting to walk all over us given the current circumstances, but we certainly aren’t that bad at all.’

Club officials are set to meet over Zoom tomorrow night [Wednesday] to further discuss the managerial options available to them going forward.