Evo Stik Division One North
Tadcaster Albion manager Billy Miller (right) and assistant Matt Heath have both resigned
Title-winning manager Billy Miller has stepped down at Tadcaster Albion, citing growing work commitments.
Miller leaves, along with assistant Matt Heath, after stabilising Tadcaster in the Evo Stik, 12 months after winning the Toolstation NCEL Premier Division title.
He is replaced by an in-house team of technical director Richard Cresswell, the former Leeds United striker, club manager Mike Morton and assistant manager Simon Collins.
Miller, who has recently been promoted to a Director at Askham Bryan College has seen his workload and responsibilities increase significantly said: “I’ve been a football manager for eighteen years now, the time is right for me to spend more time with my family and friends and further my passion for music.
“The extra responsibilities at work and the desire for the owners to bring the management of the club in house at some point played a significant part in me choosing to step aside now.
“On top of that my assistant manager Matt Heath had already told me and the owners that he wouldn’t be managing next season. Everything seemed to be falling into place to make the changes now rather than in the future.
“I would like to thank everyone involved in the club; the magnificent players, the tremendous staff, the brilliant fans and the great volunteers. I have absolutely loved every minute and am honoured to say I have managed this fantastic club.
“I would also like to issue my sincere thanks to the directors; Matt, James, Kent and Danny who have all been brilliant with me from the very beginning.”
Tadcaster chairman Matt Gore has spoken of his praise for Miller.
He said: “I can safely say that bringing Billy on board was one of the best decisions we have made.
“Billy has been an absolute pleasure to work with, an all-round nice guy who has done so much more for the club than anyone will ever understand.
“We have developed a strong friendship out of football that will no doubt remain. Achieving promotion in his first season was an unbelievable feat.
“Collectively we felt it was the right time to have a look at the situation due to the significant expansion of i2i Sports, Billy’s promotion at work and Matt Heath deciding he would be leaving the management team.
“Billy has left a lasting legacy at the club and who knows what the future holds. Billy, Matt and Richard Lawrence have done a magnificent job and we will always be grateful for their tremendous work and for the amazing memories created.”
New boss Morton, a former striker for the likes of Garforth, has previously assisted former Tad boss Paul Marshall. He and Collins have been running the club’s and i2i’s u21s and academy sides in the last past few years.
Morton said: “First of all I just want to say that Billy has done a fantastic job leading Tadcaster Albion out of a tough Northern Counties Premier League at the very first attempt, as well as stabilising the club’s status in the Evo-Stik.
“Moving forward, myself and Simon are very excited for the job at hand and are thoroughly looking forward to getting started with the players.
“We said from day one that we wanted to do it and step up to the mark when the time was right. When the opportunity was presented to us we jumped at the chance.
“We’ve seen quite a lot of this league and there’s no doubt that it is a high standard of football to compete in, but the prospect of competing at this level excites us both.”
Cresswell’s role is wide-ranging and he added: “As Technical Director I have a wide-ranging brief. I am really excited about working with Mikey and Simon who are both fantastic coaches.
“I will support them wherever I can, especially with the overall strategy of the club. I am confident with my experience in the professional game that I can help the management team in many different areas.
“The new role as Technical Director at i2i Sports encompasses working closely with the i2i UK and International Academies, helping to develop and enhance the pathway for our promising young players not only here in the UK but from around the world.
“Billy has done a tremendous job for the club; the foundations are in truly in place for further progress within the football pyramid.”