A new era is dawning at Axminster Town, with a new football manager on the horizon and a familiar face joining the commercial side of the club.
The Tigers decided to part company with Josh Stunell as first-team manager and expressed their ‘thanks to Stunell and assistant John Clements for the commitment on and off the pitch’.
As well as the managerial changes at Tiger Way, former boss Ray Self has returned as a club ambassador and commercial manager.
“We are planning to announce a new management team on the weekend,” said chairman Andy Hurford. “We just felt the team needed a change, as we have been fighting relegation for a little while.
“The ambition is to build a team that can compete in the Peninsula League but it was definitely not an easy decision.
“We now look forward to an exciting new partnership for the club and our objective is to sustain a good level of football at Step 6.
“Axminster Town is not a massive club but we want to push on, and put out a side that can play good football.
“The enforced break during lockdown certainly makes you think about things a bit more because you’re not in that constant treadmill of games every week. It has given us time to reflect.
“It is very difficult at our level to build a team because some players will need to be paid and it can be a tricky balance.
“Away from the pitch, Ray Self will be looking after the commercial side of things, including a Patron project that will include a number of benefits associated with the club for a minimal fee.
“When I took over as chairman, Ray took a couple of years away from the club to focus on his business and it is great to have him back with Axminster.
“Ray will be with us to improve the commercial opportunities at Axminster Town and there are a whole range of partnership schemes for local sponsors to get involved.
“We just needed someone who had the time to make it happen.”