SALTASH United Football Club have been stunned by the resignation of manager Matt Cusack, who is leaving the club after 10 years to become head coach of Western League Premier Division side Plymouth Parkway.

Cusack has spent five years as a player and five years as manager at Kimberley Stadium.

He has steered the club to three successive Cornwall Senior Cup finals, and was still fighting for silverware on three fronts this season when the campaign was abandoned due to coronavirus.

The club issued a statement, saying: ‘Saltash United Football Club are sorry to announce that we have accepted the resignation of first-team manager Matthew Cusack.

‘The club would like to publicly state its gratitude to Matt, who has done a wonderful job during his time with the Ashes, not only as a manager for the past five seasons, but as a player for many more.

‘Under Matt, the club has enjoyed multiple successes, including winning the South West Peninsula League Charity Bowl, Walter C Parson League Cup and Cornwall Senior Cup in the last couple seasons.

‘The club wishes Matt every success with his new venture at Western League outfit Plymouth Parkway. ‘

Cusack said in a statement on his Twitter page: ‘It is with a heavy heart that I have decided to vacate my management position at Saltash United and call time on a decade spent at the football club.

‘I’d like to thank Kev Hendy for bringing me to this brilliant football club as a player, the managers I played for after that, and the players I played with throughout.

‘The committee who have always been supportive – chairmen Bill Wakeham, Colin Phillips, Clive Farrant and interim Dave Bishop; treasurer Steve Morley and hit kitchen team; Steve Manel and Robin Duff, our second and third-team managers; secretaries Steve Ladlow and Scott Cooksley; Brian Pinkham and Dave Bishop for the excellent surface they have produced and maintained; my assistant Dane Bunney, my physio Rich Haydon and my coaching team; our growing number of supporters who have followed us everywhere to support the team; and lastly my players, who I have managed along the way, including my current squad – you are great people!

‘Due to persistent niggling injuries, I was actually prepared to call time on football at 34 after five years at the club when Bill Wakeham offered me the manager’s position – one that didn’t seem to be attractive enough for any managers on the circuit at the time. I can see why!

‘I inherited six players and told myself I would just do it for a year to steady the ship and give something back to the club.

‘However, it was a huge opportunity. An opportunity to develop a culture and to put into practice everything that I believed in and had learned from previous managers, the teaching world, playing experience and wider reading.’

Cusack added: ‘I’d like to think I’m leaving the team in a better position than when I took on the managerial role.

‘I fully expect Dane to assume the manager’s position and know the players will give him the support they gave me so that there is minimal disruption.

‘My dad always told me to play as high as you can for as long as you can. The same applies for my coaching journey.

‘Saltash have always been aware that as soon as my own ambition exceeded that of the football club, that would be the time to move on. We are now at that point.

‘This is without doubt the hardest decision I have ever had to make in football. I have given a quarter of my life to Saltash United and am proud of what we have built and achieved.

‘But in order to continue to challenge and be true to myself, the time is now right for me.

‘I can now turn my attention to a new and exciting role that has been offered to me by Plymouth Parkway manager Lee Hobbs.

‘From the start of the new season I will undertake the role of head coach at the biggest and most forward-thinking non-league club in the Plymouth area.’