SLIMBRIDGE manager Doug Gray has resigned from his post as the ambitious club's title drive continues to slip.

Gray handed in his notice immediately after Saturday's disastrous 3-0 defeat at Abingdon United, a match which saw three Slimbridge players sent off and which could prove to be a major hammer blow in terms of suspensions and morale.

The decision brings to an end one of the most illustrious managerial spells in Slimbridge's history, with Gray having masterminded the club's meteoric rise from the Gloucestershire County League to the summit of the Hellenic Premier Division.

Indeed, in two seasons in the Premier Division Slimbridge have consistently challenged for honours and have never slipped out of the leading positions in the league table. However, the pressure of leading the club's constant charge towards success was never going to be easy, and Gray made the decision to end his near four-year reign at the helm after a disappointing game that may well have killed off Slimbridge's title hopes.

Gray told the Gazette: "Our performance hadn't been good for some time and the spark just seemed to be missing, so I thought this was the honourable thing to do.

"I enjoyed it, and had tremendous support from John Mack (chairman) during my time at the club, as well as John Evans and John Hamilton (coaches) and all of the players. We had some great times at Slimbridge and I'd like to wish everybody there all the best. It's a good squad at Slimbridge and they'll do okay.

"I'm going to take a break now and concentrate on my business and take in some local games and then have a re-think in the summer."

Club secretary David Phillips said: "Doug fell on his sword really. So much went on during Saturday's match that, 48 hours later, it's still difficult to comprehend. He bought everybody a drink in the bar afterwards and it's just sad what happened.

"The main thing is that we were running out of ideas, and not a lot of momentum was being retained when the whole season was geared towards league success. "We are now taking a calm, reflective view on the situation, but the overall goal remains the same. From this day on we will be looking to rebuild the situation."

Appointed as manager in the summer of 2001, former Hereford United star Gray enjoyed unprecedented success in the Wisloe Road hot seat. In continuous seasons, he led the club through the Gloucestershire County League and the Hellenic League Division One West.

Last season, the club's first in the Hellenic League Premier Division, Gray took Slimbridge to a highly creditable fourth place in the league table and also claimed three cups - the GFA Challenge Trophy, the Hellenic Floodlit Cup and the Hellenic Brian Wells Cup.

A former manager of both Dursley Town and Cam Bulldogs, Gray's immediate future is unclear though his presence at Slimbridge will undoubtedly be missed.

In the meantime, first team coach John Evans has agreed to take the reigns as caretaker manager and has expressed a strong interest in the managerial vacancy.

Phillips added: "John Evans has kindly taken over and has intimated interest but the committee feel that it is far too early to make any promises. We will look and see how it goes. Things will become clearer. But no permanent appointment will be considered hastily."

However, Evans has been assured of full consideration at the appropriate moment even though the post has been advertised.