Number two stands down at Hornets

By David Watters

Horsham

Horsham's Rob Frankland has told the club's website he was "gutted" to leave after stepping down as assistant manager this week.

The former Hornets keeper had been a popular member of the management team over the past few years, serving under current manager Gary Charman and former boss John Maggs.

Although Frankland said his health played a part in his decision to stand down after he was involved in a car accident last year, it was the club's disappointing start to the campaign that proved to be the trigger for his departure.

Frankland, who who helped the club achieve promotion to the Ryman's top flight in 2006 as a player, also insisted that a more experienced man is needed to work alongside Charman.

He said: "After pre-season, and the disappointment of losing our first couple of games, I felt it wasn't really working out for the club so I told Gary that I would be stepping down. I'm gutted because I love Horsham. It's the best club I've ever played at and worked for but after the defeat at East Grinstead I only slept for two hours because the result was going round and round in my head.

"I was the assistant-manager so I'm not totally blameless. I have to take some responsibility for the results and hope that me stepping down will give someone else the opportunity to come in and do a better job. Everything I do revolves around football and, to me, football is all about enjoyment so when that starts to disappear then it`s time to get out."

Frankland was lucky to escape serious injury when he suffered a black-out and crashed his car and he added: "It's very sad, but it`s a decision I've made totally on my own. I've had texts from the players, and Gary tried to talk me out of it, but I've got to think of my health as well.

"I'll still be a fan but I think that Gary needs someone with a lot more experience than me to help take the club forward."

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