BRADFORD Town manager Paul Shanley will be stepping down at the end of the season.

Shanley, who took over at Trowbridge Road in May 2008 at the start of Bradford’s third season in the Toolstation League following their promotion from the Wiltshire League, believes that he has taken his club as far as possible and reckons the time is right to walk away.

The departing Shanley led Bradford to the First Division title in the 2013-2014 season and is certain that he is leaving the Bobcats in a position for a new boss to carry on his good work at the helm.

“I told the chairman and the players on Wednesday. It had been on my mind for a little while and myself and my assistants, Ali (Belcher) and Eddy (Mark Edwards), will be going at the end of the season,” said Shanley, who has also previously managed Trowbridge Town.

“I played for the club and I’ve been there for eight years as manager, and when you’ve been somewhere for that long, sometimes it starts to get a little bit stale – I think I’ve taken them as far as I could.

“It’s a fantastic football club. The chairman Les (Stevens) is the heart and soul and the committee are all fantastic. When you’re at a club, you make friends for life.

“There have been some great moments, like winning the First Division when the club had only been in the Western League for eight years.

“We made the last 16 of the FA Vase (last season) and beat Hungerford in the FA Cup, but the only regret is that we haven’t won more trophies – we’ve been in three Wiltshire Senior Cup finals.

“I’ve tried to do things differently this season. I take the blame for that not working and I think that it’s time for someone with fresh ideas to come in.”

Neikell Plummer’s brace, one of which was a penalty, and a goal from Sam Jordan, who also missed from the spot, saw Bradford beat Bitton 3-0 on Wednesday.