WAYNE Hughes said he departs Falmouth Town with a "heavy heart" - but simply could not give 100 per cent attention to the manager's job there.

As exclusively revealed on the Packet Sport website on Sunday morning, Hughes has confirmed he has decided to stand down from the Bickland Park hotseat after just nine months in charge.

The 41-year-old took over last October at the South West Peninsula League Premier side initially on a caretaker basis before being promoted to the role permanently a few weeks later following John Dent's resignation.

Hughes, who lives in Exeter, said he was sad to be leaving, but said commitments away from the pitch meant he could not continue.

Hughes told the Packet: "It is a massive job which needs 100 per cent attention paid to it, but at the moment I can only pay about 60 per cent attention to it and that is not fair on the club.

"I am gutted and leave with a very heavy heart as Falmouth are my home town club, but I have nine and seven-year-old daughters who I have barely seen for 12 months and my day job takes me all over the country as well.

"I have to put family and work first and with that, I simply cannot concentrate on my role as a football manager as much as I should.

"I am a bit annoyed because I feel my work here is not finished, but the decision I've made is the right one as it would end up affecting the players as well."

Under his stewardship, the Ambers won six games, drew five and lost 13 in all competitions with many spectators praising the attacking style of play used by Hughes, who had originally come in to manage the reserve side.

These results helped Town finish 16th in the league and avoid relegation.

During the pre-season period, signings in the calibre of Andrew Westgarth, Chris Wormington and Harley Westlake has been snapped up and Hughes believes whoever succeeds him will find the team in a good place.

"When I took over, the club was not in the best of positions to say the least," he said.

"My remit was to keep the club up while trying to play some good football and that is what we managed to achieve.

"All I have had at the club is good times and the club and players have been outstanding.

"The budget at Falmouth is good enough to compete in the league and there is a good core of young and senior players in the squad, so I feel my successor will inherit a team in a good shape."

Anyone interested in taking on the manager's role at Falmouth should contact either club secretary Wayne Pascoe on 07887 365400 or email pascoerichard@Hotmail.com or chairman Graham Medlin on 07899 957548.