TWO of Hounslow's Combined Counties League teams this week parted company with their first team managers.
Bobby 'The Dog' Dawson has stepped down from the hot-seat at Premier Division Hanworth Villa, while Neil Cummins has been moved to a coaching role at Division One CB Hounslow United.
No successor has yet been named at Villa, but at CB, chairman and former manager Frank James will be back in the dugout next season.
Villa chairman Gary Brunning said he reluctantly accepted Dawson's resignation after three successful years which has seen the club established themselves in the Premier and embark on memorable FA Cup and FA Vase campaigns.
Brunning said: “A change to Bob's work schedule has made it difficult for him over the second half of the season, and he feels that he will be unable to give the role the attention it requires in the next campaign.
“Bob took over the reins from Tony Buss, who was a much loved and respected man and a real Villa legend, so any successor would have a big task trying to fill his boots, but Bobby managed it and managed it well.
“His management style was very different to Tony’s, and in the beginning the players were slow to adapt, but Bobby slowly won them over and turned us into a force to be reckoned with. He has become a good friend to me, and to many others at the Ranch, and I would like to thank him for all the good work he has done for us.
“He leaves the team in good health and has said that he will be available should his replacement wish to speak to him. I also have his promise that he won’t be a stranger so we look forward to seeing him about the place.”
Over at Tentelow Lane, Cummins has had a somewhat less successful time of it, CB finishing rock bottom of Division One with just two wins from his first season in charge, but will become a valuable member of the back room staff.
James said: “Nei's first full job in management did not work out as he had hoped, as he found out the stark difference between coaching and managing, but he will stay on as senior club coach.
“I have known Neil for 30 years and am sad it hasn't worked out, but he did a great job with our reputation, and I'm glad he's staying on.
“I didn't really want to be manager again, but I will do it for two years while we train Pete Morris and Wilson Frimpong, who will also be part of the set-up, in the CB way.”
