DAVID Malone has rocked non-league football by quitting FA Vase and Sydenhams Wessex League champions Winchester City.

After three years as director of football, which his seen him pump in excess of £100,000 into the City coffers, the Winchester businessman has come to the sorry conclusion that he can take the Hampshire wonder club no further.

The last straw for Malone was last Saturday's embarrassingly one-sided 10-0 romp at Hamble ASSC. It churned up all the old frustrations of last season when, having swept the board for silverware, City were denied promotion because their Denplan City Ground was not up to scratch by the April 1 deadline.

City have won eight trophies in the last three seasons and their form this term suggests they can repeat last season's Vase/Wessex/ League Cup treble.

But winning has lost its appeal for the ambitious Malone who suspects even if Winchester were promoted next summer, the future wouldn't be much brighter in the Ryman Division 1.

He said: "The Wessex League frustrates me in lots of ways but, having played a couple of the Isthmian sides this season, I don't think the standard's any better.

"Even if we go up, it's almost a booby prize. We've got a team at Winchester that's about as good as you're going to get and what is there left to do?

"To be a force at a higher level, there needs to be a lot more money and backing than I'm able to give.

"I'd rather have been at the dentist than seeing the 10-0 win at Hamble to be honest. I walked away feeling depressed and thinking 'what's it all about?'

"I was tempted to jack it in last summer as I didn't know how we could top winning the Vase, or if I could face all the wrangles with the league's administrators.

"You've either got to accept the way they are and work within it or be forever fighting them."

Malone will officially stand down after tomorrow's trip to Alton Town, where City begin their defence of the Vase.

The big fear must be that, without his cash imput, Winchester will spiral down to where they first started under Malone - mid-table mediocrity in the old Hampshire League.

Malone, though, feels City should be in good enough shape to withstand his resignation. He said: "I've handed the reins back to the chairman Richard Newsome and it's up to the club now to decide which way they want to go forward.

"As far as I know, Winchester have got quite a substantial bank balance.

"The infrastructure's in place and I'd like to think they won't go belly-up.

"I feel responsible, but I can't BE responsible for what happens. I've done my bit and, as well as putting money into the club, I've worked really hard, too.

"The playing structure's superb and there isn't a better management team around than Neil Hards, Steve Moss, Mark Blake and Gary Green. I wouldn't swap them for anyone."

Malone's decision could start a stampede for his services.

Although the former Bashley chairman has categorically ruled out a return to the Recreation Ground, he is eager to start again elsewhere - ideally as a director of football.

He stressed: "I want to stay in football and I'm open to offers, but I'm not going to jump out of the frying pan and into the fire.

"I want to get into the right club in the right situation."