Early exit for new Rams boss

Only appointed at the start of October as the successor to Andy Neal, Robson stood down on Monday night with his side second from bottom of the EVO-STIK League Southern Division One Central table.

After taking charge as caretaker before Robson's arrival, director of football Lines has been appointed on a permanent basis at Love Lane until the end of the season with a target of securing the club's EVO-STIK League Southern status.

Pictured, left, alongside Robson following his appointment last month, he takes charge for the first on Tuesday night for the club's league clash at home to Uxbridge.

Petersfield Town chairman Graeme Moir explained the club's decision to fans to shake up the club's management structure again in a statement announcing the news.

Moir said: "The decision was taken due to the general situation within the club. Things were not developing in the way we had hoped they would – I am not going to go into the full details of this in public other than to say that the situation required myself and the committee to look at what was going on and make a decision on the future direction of the football side of the club.

"It is not a decision we have taken lightly and it was not an easy decision in some respects to make but both myself and the committee have in the situation presented to us had to take a view on things and, as we always try and ensure we do, we have made what we believe is a decision that is in the best interests of the football club moving forward.

"Action was required in my opinion and again we have done what we feel will give us the best possible chance of not only moving away from the bottom end of the table but to look at reaching mid-table stability by the end of the campaign."

Moir also paid tribute to the efforts of former Gosport Borough, Winchester City, Andover Town, Blackfield and Langley, Worthing and Dover boss Robson.

The Rams chairman added: "I want to make it very clear that our decision is not in any way a reflection on the ability or experience John has brought to the manager’s role in his time at Petersfield Town FC. I would like to thank him publicly for everything he has done for the club in his short time with us and both myself and everyone at the club would like to wish him all the best for the future.

"He is one of the most well respected figures in non-league football in the area and from our dealings with him, I can say that this is a title that is well deserved. However, as a club we now need to move on and forward with the aim of securing our step four status as soon as is possible this season."

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