DAVE MATTHEWS has resigned from his post as senior and U21 Island football manager.

Only months on from delighting the local football scene with victory in the Jersey International Football Tournament – his senior side topping the rising stars of Barcelona, Maritimo and Celtic – the former Muratti goalkeeper has called it a day.

Matthews, having been contacted by the JEP this morning, declined to comment ahead of an expected Jersey Football Association statement.

Results in the South West Counties league have not gone Jersey’s way since the tournament victory at Springfield in August, but player availability for these matches, particularly the away fixtures, must surely have played a part in Matthews’ decision to stand down.

Jersey lost the Cherry Godfrey Centenary Muratti to Guernsey after a pulsating replay at Springfield, but the summer triumph in Matthews’ own words had ‘vindicated his selections.’ In a JFA press release issued later this morning association president Charlie Tostevin recorded his thanks for all of Mathews’ work and that of his assistants during his 33 match reign, adding that the vacant position will be discussed at a JFA Council meeting on 12 December and that no comment will be made until after the meeting.

The release also states that one of Matthews’ biggest disappointments during his reign was the failure of the JFA and Coca-Cola Combination to amalgamate and that the Island job had changed, with more work expected of the manager, outside of handling the team.

Matthews’ won Muratti Vase finals twice in three years, picked up a bronze in the 2003 NatWest Island Games in Guernsey, and won three and drew two of ten South West Counties League matches since taking the Island job in early 2003 – but it was rare that the squad originally selected for the latter matches actually travelled.

The speculation over Matthews’ successor is sure to cover a wide range of coaches in the Island – and player availability is certain to be a major concern of anyone taking over the top coaching post in Jersey football.