HAVING worked so hard to get AFC Totton back on their feet financially, the last thing Andy Straker wanted was to leave them at a time of need.

But after resigning as club chairman this week, he admitted ill health had left him no option but to stand down.

The 50-year-old, a regional organiser for the trade union Unison, has been signed off work for six months having been diagnosed with a brain tumour.

And much as it goes against the grain to leave Totton sitting third-to-bottom of the Southern One South & West, Straker must put his health first.

“I don’t want people thinking I’m running away,” he said. “I wouldn’t be making this decision if I wasn’t ill.

"We’re down the bottom and that’s certainly not where I wanted to leave it, but it got too much for me.

"I can’t help the club going forward, so it’s no good me just sitting there with a grand title.

“I’ve been to one game since September and came home feeling ill. I just haven’t got the energy.

“Leaving Totton’s the last thing I wanted to do. They’re a great bunch, from management through to supporters, and to not be able to be part of that on a Saturday afternoon isn’t great.”

Straker’s right-hand man Roy Edwards had taken on the chairman’s duties in Straker’s absence, but he too is vacating the vice-chairman’s post having recently been promoted at work.

Edwards will, however, be around to ensure things run smoothly until December 21’s special general meeting when members can elect a new chairman, vice-chairman and treasurer.

An AFC Totton statement said: "The club would like to take this opportunity to thank both Roy and Andy for everything they have done in recent years. The pair of them have worked well together steering the club through the financial troubles which they inherited in 2013/14."

The news came as a shock to new team boss Louis Langdown who was appointed less than a month ago with Adam Wilde as his player-assistant.

Backing the pair to carry the club forward, Straker said: “I’m sure Louis and Adam will turn it around. AFC Totton will be more than safe this season and they'll have a good summer to build on how they want to do things.

"It doesn’t feel right walking away having just brought Louis in, but I have to think of myself. I don’t know what the new year will bring.

"I've got to concentrate on getting my health back and having some sort of life."

Langdown, who leads the Stags to Bideford on Saturday, said: “Our thanks go to Andy and Roy for all they’ve done.

“We’ll listen to the volunteers who run the club and see what comes out of the meeting. There’s lots to clear up and we’ll assess things in the coming week or two. Andy's health comes first and this is a time to praise him and Roy."

Defender and former skipper Liam Hibberd has left Totton due to work commitments, Jack Vallis begins a two-match ban and both Ashley Jarvis and Sam Roberts are injured.

Langdown had intended to sign a couple of new players, but that is now on hold.