Abingdon Town manager Alan Thorne has decided to quit the Ryman League Division 2 club for personal reasons.

Thorne, who has been at the club for one-and-a-half seasons, said the final straw came on Saturday before their FA Vase game at Whitehawk, which they eventually lost 2-0, when a number of players pulled out of the game at the last minute.

It wasn't helped by the departure of striker Danny Wise, who rejoined Oxford City on Friday night.

Thorne said: "I have decided to call it a day. I have nothing against the football club.

"I don't feel I'm 100 per cent committed to the club, and I don't feel four or five of the players are.

"Devoting every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday to the club every week is a big commitment.

"I'm quite sad about it. It has been hard work, but we were starting to turn it round here.

"When I first came here the club was rock-bottom. I've had no fall out with the chairman. He asked me to reconsider, but I said I couldn't.

"Perhaps I just need a break from football.

"It's got nothing to do with the Danny Wise situation. He has been saying we have not paid him, but we paid him exactly what we agreed.

"There is nothing wrong with his ability on the field, but he didn't seem willing to buckle down and work."

Thorne added: "I think I have got the best players for the club that the budget allowed. We've bought in quality players like Dave Tregurtha, Tristan Didcock, and Chris Potter.

"But Saturday was the final straw. Of the team I picked on Thursday, I had to change five of them for the game."

Town chairman Phil Evans said: "I'm disappointed. He has done a lot for the club.

"Myself and the committee would like to thank him for that. He has attracted some good players to the club.

"We have lost only one game in the league and we are quite stable on the playing side. I asked him to go away and think about it, but he said he had already done his thinking.

"He assures me he is not going to another club. He thought it would be beneficial for the club if he walked away. There is certainly no disagreement with Alan and the club."

Assistant manager Peter Lamont will takes charge of Abingdon for tonight's trip to Horsham in the first round of the Bryco Cup tonight, when they welcome back Tregurtha and Didcock.

Evans added that the club hoped to appoint a new manager by the end of the week.

Abingdon Tn (v Horsham, away): from Serle, Brewerton, Burden, Tregurtha, Squires, Beauchamp, Hendra, Douglas, Scanes, Harper, Thomas, Potter, Butler, Hough, Allsworth.