JUST weeks after manager Steve Massey decided to stand down at Falmouth Town, the club now has to look for a new chairman following the resignation of Graham Medlin.

Medlin, who had been with the club for around six years, the last two as chairman, feels it is time for someone else to take over the reins, but his presence at Bickland Park will be sorely missed.

Said Medlin: "As chairman you want to take the club forward, but that is not going to happen at the moment because there is a minority within the club who have a negative attitude.

"There are some very good people and some very good workers at the club, but when some people are so negative about looking to the future you feel that you are banging your head against a brick wall."

Although he offered no in-depth comment on it, his proposal to relocate the club from Bickland Park to somewhere such as Channel Four was probably not universally welcomed and could well have been one of the reasons behind his resignation.

Referring to the possible ground relocation, he said: "Bickland Park was the Wembley of the West in the 1960s and 1970s, but not any more. The ground and its surrounds have been neglected for too many years and to bring everything up to scratch will take not thousands of pounds, but figures far in excess of that.

"It is a tired old ground and you can't keep living in the past. The club needs to move to a new ground and build another great period in its history, but some people are negative through and through and if you don't have their 100 per cent backing there's no point in continuing."

It's all a far cry from six years ago when Graham was invited to put advertising hoardings around the ground.

"Yes, I put boards on the grounds for a couple of years and then I sponsored the first team kit for two years. After that I became vice-chairman to John Garwood who left after a year and I have been chairman since then.

"I don't regret anything because I love this club to bits and who's to say that I might not return at a future date. No-one knows what the future holds."

Asked about the timing of his decision following the appointment of new manager Andy Bowker, Medlin added: "I've spoken to Andy and explained my reasons to him. I'm sure that he will stay and do a good job. I personally believe that he will be a good manager for Town, but the commitee has to support him."

Medlin was not only a figurehead for the club, but was also willing to help out financially and that could be another problem Town will have to solve. Competing in the South West Peninsula League is a costly business and Town will need every penny it can muster if it is to remain competitive.

He also did a considerable amuount of work on the ground and on match days would carry out a number of behind-the-scenes tasks.

"It takes a lot of hard work to keep a club like Falmouth Town going. I've enjoyed most of my time at the club and I want to wish the club every success for the future.

"I've finished for now, but I could be back in the game some time in the future, but that's football isn't it?

"I won't be putting my feet up,"said Medlin. "Just like everybody else I will get itchy feet come the start of the season, so I will be watching football locally. I will always support local football."

Commenting on Medlin's departure, acting chairman Steve Kimberley said: "It is with sadness and regret that we have accepted the resignation of Graham Medlin as chairman of Falmouth Town FC for personal reasons, with immediate effect. Graham has been a great servant and supporter of the club over many years and has worked tirelessly to keep us at the forefront of Cornish football.

"We would like to wish him and his family, all the very best for the future and hope to see him at Bickland Park again soon."

The club has also formally announced the management structure to take the first team forward for the new season 2008/09. It is - First team manager, Andy Bowker; assistant manager, Wayne Hewitt; fitness coach, Shaun Tozer; liaison officer, Neil Phillips.

n The club will also be seeking a manager for the 3rd XI following Tony Pentecost's decision to move to Wendron United.