Swans and Sterling part company

The EVO-STIK League Southern Division One South & West Swans announced they'd parted company by mutual consent hours after the 2-1 defeat at Thornhill Park, the fifth reverse Sterling's side suffered in December.

Assistant manager Freddy Ward is set to take charge of the club's next outing at Shortwood United on Monday 2 January as officials started the hunt to appoint a successor to Sterling, pictured, on Wednesday.

Swans secretary Colin Gay said: "Slimbridge FC would like to place on record their sincere thanks to Leon for the tremendous amount of work that he has done for this club both as a player and a manager.

"Slimbridge FC and Leon have departed on good terms and both Leon and his family will always be made most welcome at Thornhill Park. No further statement will be made by the club until further notice."

Former skipper Sterling was appointed assistant manager to James Cole in 2007 before taking over as manager in the summer of 2010 and leading the Swans into the Southern League for the first time in 2014-15 after finishing third in the Western League Premier Division.

Potential candidates for the vacant managerial post should contact the club's secretary in the strictest confidence via email at: Colin.hamish@icloud.com. All applications will be acknowledged within seven days of being sent.

Image courtesy of Gary Baker/gazetteseries.co.uk

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