PETERSFIELD Town chairman Graeme Moir has set out the reasons why manager John Robson has been released from the role after only four weeks at the club.

The shock announcement was made by the club on Monday evening – only 48 hours after the team had picked up only their second league win of the season.

The now departed manager took charge of his first game on October 18, and got off to a 2-1 winning start against Eversley and California in the Russell Cotes Cup.

After that game he guided the Rams to three consecutive league defeats before beating Portsmouth Water Company 7-2 in the Portsmouth Senior Cup last Tuesday, and a 2-1 league success at Aylesbury.

Moir stressed the decision to let Robson go was nothing to do with the manager’s ability or experience.

He explained: “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 the situation required us to 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 we have done what we feel will give us the best possible chance of moving away from the bottom end of the table.

“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.”

Gary Lines has been installed as first team manager for the rest of the season. The role of director of football has been scrapped and all of the current coaching staff are remaining in their current roles.