IT HAS been a dramatic first week of the non-league football season in Barnsley with Jason Blunt quitting his job as Dearne and District manager two games into their first ever campaign at NCEL level.

The former Leeds and Doncaster player, who led Dearne to promotion out of the Central Midlands League last season, took four points from the opening two games this week.

But, the morning after their first ever win at the level, on Wednesday, the Goldthorpe club announced the departure of Blunt, who is from Bolton-upon-Dearne. He says he does not have another job lined up but wants to give more time to his other coaching roles such as his I2I International Soccer Academy.

Blunt told the Chronicle: “I felt I had taken the club as far as I could within my resume.

“I was finding it time consuming with my other commitments in football. When I left Leeds’ academy eight years ago, I had no intention of getting back into Saturday football. I did it because it’s my local club.

“I was getting frustrated at one or two things but I am still good friends with everybody down there. It could have been better timing but I still think they are in a good place. They are not getting left in the lurch.

“The squad we have created is extremely strong. Everything isn’t just down to me and I expect them to get promoted again.

“I was extremely proud to manage by local team and will keep a close eye on where they end up.”