Ledbury Town have a new first team management duo after former manager Paul Wilband walked out following last Satur-day's defeat by Malvern Town.

Ledbury Town FC chairman Chris Stephens said: "Paul Wilband resigned following a poor performance on Saturday and the club directors have appointed a new manager who will be taking control from Thursday (yesterday)."

Ian Ford, who joined the club at the start of the season and has been in charge of the reserve team, has been appointed manager with Kevin Barry as his assistant.

Town also lost the services of first team captain Stuart Hall who also stated that he was leaving the club after Wilband had resigned.

Mr Stevens said: "We had been given notice of approach for Stuart Hall and he has decided to leave. When other clubs come in and offer more money than you can match, what can you do?"

He was expecting the manager to announce the new first team captain prior to the match at Smethwick tomorrow (Saturday).

Mr Stephens said the club has "someone in mind" for the reserve team manager but he did not want to comment on who prior to confirmation.

Ledbury are at present in a mid-table position in the West Midlands Premier Division, with 28 points from 16 matches, but have up to eight games in hand on teams above them.

They have six games in hand on the top two teams, Malvern Town and Tipton Town, who have 51 points and 50 points respectively, and could move up to third place if they win all their matches in hand.

They recently won through to the final of the Herefordshire FA Senior Cup for the first time for many years defeating cup favourites Westfields in an earlier round and Ross Town 6-1 away in the semi-final.

Ledbury Town have drawn rivals and league leaders Malvern Town at home in the second round of the West Midlands Premier Division League Cup. A date still has to be arranged.