TONY Feeney has quit as boss of relegated Blackfield & Langley - partly for work reasons but also because of his reservations about the new Sydenhams Wessex League Division 2.

Little more than two months ago, Feeney pledged to stay with the Watersiders even if they lost their top-flight Wessex status.

But on closer inspection of the new Division 2 format, the former Hythe & Dibden and (Esso) Fawley man admitted: "No disrespect to the clubs in Division 2, but I just don't fancy going back to some of those places.

"I thought I'd left grounds like that behind.

"The last time I went to Bishop's Waltham, I thought their floodlights were dangerous and there's such a difference between going somewhere like that and playing at Newbury in Division 1.

"I'm not interested in going to Aldermaston and places like that.

"To be honest, I've got my doubts about the new Wessex set-up. How many of these clubs coming in from the old Hampshire League are going to make the grading in a couple of years' time? I can't see many of them doing it.

"My old club Hythe & Dibden, for example, have come into the league probably knowing that in two years' time they won't be there any more.

"There's just not the money available for these clubs to develop.

"I feel sorry for local football because I don't know what direction it's going in and what the bigger picture will be? I fear for some of these clubs."

Feeney wound up alone at the Blackfield helm last season after his co-manager Andy Price and coach Bill Moore left in quick succession. He recently rectified that by bringing in former AFC Totton No 2 Chris Homer to work with him and the club were last night expected to approach Homer about taking on the job outright.

Chairman Ian Hoare admitted: "It's disappointing to lose Tony, particularly at this time of the season. I'm not overly happy about the league we're going back to either, but we'll just plough on.

"When I looked at Hythe & Dibden's side last season they were all ex-Blackfield players. It's very easy to walk away from a club, but very difficult to stick with it, work hard and try and turn things round.

"I'd never walk away from Blackfield but I'd walk away from the chairmanship tomorrow if we could find someone else to come in. I haven't got the finances to put in. The club needs a new direction."

Feeney, a veteran of more than 500 games in midfield for Blackfield during the 1980s/90s, admitted: "There was never going to be a good time to leave the club, but Chris and I have sorted out the pre-season schedules and signed most of the players on from last season, so he's not left completely in the the lurch.

"I was disappointed when Andy and Bill left and now I'm doing the same thing, but at least a ball hasn't been kicked yet."

Feeney will not be lost from football completely. He will still run his son's Tyro League side Fawley Falcons on Sundays.