Martin Stone and Laurie Craker resign as Burnham FC's management team

Burnham announced the resignation, with immediate effect of their manager Martin Stone on Friday, while their assistant boss Laurie Craker has followed him out of the club.

Speaking this afternoon, before the Blues’ 7-2 defeat at Cambridge City, Craker said they had left after money that was promised to the players and management team was not forthcoming, despite the club agreeing to pay a reduced budget that would see them through to the end of the season.

The club announced that Stone had resigned as manager yesterday and today’s squad for the game at Cambridge was led by reserve team coach Mervyn Lloyd.

Despite agreeing to pay a reduced players’ budget until the end of the season, Craker claimed the club haven’t been paying the players in recent weeks and said that ‘enough was enough’.

Stone and Craker have been in charge of the Blues for three years, guiding them to promotion from the Southern League Central Division last season, and 10th place in the Southern League Premier Division.

"We re-agreed the budget for the players," said Craker,

"But unfortunately that hasn't come to fruition.

"It was reduced some weeks ago but the club hasn't been able to find that money."

Craker admitted it had been 'agony' managing the situation in recent weeks, adding that he was relieved to have left. But he said that no one could be blamed for the club’s financial plight.

"The players were asking for their money week in week out and we weren't able to give it to them," he said.

"We agreed a new budget to take us to the end of the season, and that's not been paid, so that's what's done it for Martin."

Craker said that Stone had urged chairman Gary Reeves to resolve the situation 10 days ago, but Craker said another pay day passed without the players being paid, and the pair decided it was time to resign.

"He said that if the money wasn't there the next time around then he'd go," said Craker.

"It's no one's fault that the club hasn't been making money, but enough is enough."

Shortly before Christmas the club, management and players agreed to a reduced budget which would tide them over to the end of the season.

Stone said at the time the budget had been cut by around 45 per cent, and it led to the departure of several first team players.

However, on the pitch the Blues enjoyed their best run of form this season, winning six of their last nine games.

Club chairman Gary Reeves said earlier this season that the budget problems were triggered by two sponsors failing to come through with the money that was owed to the club, a situation he had hoped to resolve.

The club also struggled to recover from the postponement of a pre-season match against Wycombe Wanderers, which is thought to have cost Burnham thousands in lost revenue. They are also paying more this season for transport to away games and match day fees.