IAN Jones has stepped down as Taunton Town manager with four games of a relegation battle remaining.

The former Mangotsfield and Chippenham goalkeeper resigned on Sunday after becoming disillusioned with a lack of commitment within the struggling Southern League Division South and West club.

Jones, who took over from Gary Domone in December 2007, admitted he thought about quitting the cash-strapped club when his playing budget was cut in December.

He decided to continue but has found it impossble to carry on, particularly after taking over the Brent Knoll Inn pub, near East Brent, recently.

Jones said: “I hate to leave so close to the end of the season but I couldn’t carry on under the circumstances. It was affecting everything I did.

“I had been thinking about it for a few weeks and I’ve been struggling to give the job as much of my time after taking over the pub.

“Lots of people advised me to stand down when the budget was cut but I carried on.

“The financial contraints made the job very tough and I had to rely on favours and friends of friends to get players in.

“I understand the club’s financial situation but they don’t show the players enough commitment. And, I felt in recent weeks the players’ commitment was waning and that they were just going through the motions.

“I’ve always played football to win and desperately wanted to finish this job but, with the way things have got, it’s become an impossible situation.”

Taunton chairman Tom Harris said: “We’re disappointed Ian has resigned but understand his reasons. Since the budget was cut it was a very tough job and everything that could have gone wrong for him has.

“Ian has done a marvellous job given the circumstances and, in a way, we’re surprised he has stuck it out this long.”

Jones has installed coach Paul Short as caretaker boss, to be assisted by the club’s Vase winning skipper and fans’ favourite Paul West, until the end of the season.