Ian Wakefield, chairman of Asfordby Amateurs Junior and Youth FC, last week agreed to step in as boss, while retaining his role within the junior set-up.

On of his first decisions may have to be to quit the Leicestershire Senior League, just months after promotion to the Premier, after the team and the bulk of the committee followed Dealey out of the door.

But an upbeat Wakefield has re-iterated the club's appeal for new players, the standard of whom will decide which league they will be playing in when the new season gets under way next month.

With many gloomy predictions surrounding the club, Wakefield remains optimistic about Amateurs' future: "What level we will be playing at depends on the response we get from senior players coming forward over the next week or so.

"There are a lot of very good, talented youngsters around Melton at the moment having come through the junior ranks and if i can mix those in with senior players we won't be far behind everybody else.

"I'd love to keep our Senior League status, but we do need as many experienced senior players as possible to be able to compete with the likes of Anstey Nomads, etc."

Despite the situation, Wakefield is adamant that supporters still owe Dealey gratitude for their fortunes last season and wished him luck for next season.

"Nobody has thanked Stu for everything he did and achieved for Asfordby Amateurs, taking them from the bottom of the league to league champions the following season.

Not only that, but the standard of football we were watching last season at Hoby Road was first class."

*Any senior players interested in playing for Amateurs on Saturday afternoons, call Ian Wakefield on (01664) 851796 or attend Tuesday training sessions from 7pm to 8.30pm.