Ashley Taylor is to bring an end to one of the most successful eras in Chatteris Town’s history by stepping down as manager at the end of the season.

Taylor guided the Lilies to promotion to the Cambs League’s top division and a domestic cup treble in his first season at the helm, but has decided to call time on his reign at West Street “for the good of the club.” He will take up the role as the club’s Director of Football for the 2017/18 season.

He said: “I’m standing down purely for the benefit of the club and will become Director of Football effective from the start of next season.

“My aim will be to make all of the teams and the football club stronger, to develop our local players, to improve our relationship with the community and to ultimately bring sustained football to the football club.

“The average age of our team is only 23 and it’s a team that is always improving. This is a fantastic opportunity for a new manager to manage a talented group of lads and to be part of a club going in the right direction.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time as Chatteris Town manager and I will 100 per cent return to management again one day.

“I’d like to thank everyone involved at Chatteris Town for the opportunity to manage the team for two seasons and for the new role they have given me at the club.”

Taylor took over as boss in the summer of 2015 after leading his local club, Doddington United, to successive Cambs League promotions.

His first season at West Street was one of the most fruitful in the club’s history, with the Lilies lifting the Cambs Challenge Cup, William Cockell Memorial Cup and the William Coade Intermediate Cup, as well as securing promotion to the Premier Division of the Cambs League.

Taylor’s departure follows the news that Chatteris have decided not to apply for promotion to the Thurlow Nunn league for next season.

A club statement explained that the leap into Step 6 would be a “financial burden” to the club, which has already spent tens of thousands of pounds on refurbishing and upgrading West Street.

It said: “At a meeting of the CTFC committee and football managers, it was regretfully agreed that the current building refurbishments and improvements of the playing pitches are already stretching the club’s time and finances.

“Therefore, any additional requirements by the end of March is not only an unrealistic deadline but also a financial burden, possibly harmful to current works in hand.”

The club instead plans on applying for promotion for the 2018/19 season.