Jupp announces decision to stand down as Horley Town manager

ANTHONY JUPP has announced he is to stand down as Horley Town manager at the end of this season, but insists he will still be part of the club where he has spent the past 15 years.

The centre-back joined the Clarets squad shortly after their move to the New Defence and soon became captain before taking over as caretaker manager alongside Chris Weller in December 2013. Jupp eventually took on the role on a permanent basis and has overseen a gradual improvement in the Clarets' form as well as putting a new focus on bringing young, local talent into the first team.

"I knew at the beginning of the season that it would be my last," Jupp said. "I love the club and the people involved; it isn't to do with anything football-wise whatsoever. "I know the club don't want me to leave but it's a multitude of things; it's difficult to get time off work now and I've missed four games already his season and I feel like I'm not giving the commitment the team needs. Also, I've been doing it a long time; I've been at Horley since they started at this round in 2002 and I played football at other clubs before that. I've got three young children and I need to give them more of my time. "I'm certainly not leaving Horley Town completely. I still want to be involved in the club but what role or with what responsibility, I'm not sure yet."

With less than half a season left to go, Jupp wants to leave Horley in a good position and admits there is an outside chance of a top-three finish in the Combined Counties League Premier Division. "We are currently fifth and have a couple of games in hand over some of the teams above us," he said. "We are more than happy in fifth and looking at how this season has gone so far, fourth or fifth would be about right. We are capable of maybe overachieving and getting third, but I think the top two probably have a big enough gap that they would be hard to catch."