ADAM Young says that he had no choice but to put his family first after stepping down as Melksham Town player-manager this week.

The 27-year-old informed the players of his decision in the aftermath of Tuesday night’s 4-1 win at Almondsbury UWE, bringing a 16-month spell in charge at The Conigre to an end.

An increased workload at Landmarc Support Services was the catalyst for Young’s decision and the defender, who has over 300 appearances as a player for Melksham under his belt, thinks that leaving on a high was the perfect way to go.

“I’ve got a lot of work commitments coming up, which mean that I’ll be away in Scotland a lot in the next few months, and I didn’t really want to be coming home at the weekend and then having to go straight to the club on a Saturday,” said Young.

“My family had to come before football on this occasion and I think that it’s the right decision.

“Obviously, if I could have done it any other way then I that would have happened but at least it was nice to finish with a good win like Tuesday. We’ve got an excellent team and we’ve improved a lot.

“I’ll still try to be involved with the club in some way and I’ll hopefully be there to help out.

“I’ll stay signed on as a player and maybe I’ll be back helping out as a coach for the new manager or something like that in the future.”

Melksham chairman Dave Wiltshire, who has appointed reserve team boss Steve Burns as caretaker manager as the Conigre club search for a permanent replacement, hailed Young’s time in charge.

“I tried to persuade him to stay as soon as he told me but he has to put his family first,” he said. “He’s been an absolute gentleman and he’s done a fantastic job for us, with all local players too.

“Some of the football we played last Tuesday (at Almondsbury) was the best I’ve seen in the year or so that I’ve been at the club.

“We’ll make sure that we get the right person in to replace him but I’d love for it to be someone just like Adam.”

Meanwhile, former Melksham boss Darren Perrin has thanked the local football fraternity for their support after his father – former Conigre chairman Mick – was taken seriously ill on holiday in the Caribbean.

Perrin senior, 65, is being treated in hospital in Barbados after being struck down with viral pneumonia last week.

Son Darren, the boss at Evo-Stik League Southern Premier side Frome Town praised the support he had received from the club as well as family and friends.

“It’s been a tough time and I can’t thank everybody enough, especially at Frome and our close family and friends, who have rallied around myself and my brother Steve,’’ said Perrin.

“I was like a zombie on Saturday (the 3-1 away win over Hitchin), but the players have been absolutely magnificent during this time.”

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