FORMER Saints and Liverpool legend Jimmy Case has resigned as manager of Dr Martens League side Bashley.

The former Dell favourite Case said: ''I've decided to resign for personal reasons. It was my 45th birthday on Tuesday and every Saturday since I turned 18 has been accounted for through football - I could do with a break.''

Case had been at the Recreation Ground for exactly two years but the past season has been a turbulent one off the pitch for the New Forest club.

Manager Case and his assistant Barry Blankley managed to stave off a threatened players' strike in November just before their prestige FA Trophy tie at Conference champions Cheltenham when the players planned to stay in the dressing room because of a long-running pay dispute.

The past season has also seen boardroom resignations and wage cuts which led to some of their more senior players leaving the club. Bashley chairman Gary Parsons said: ''Jimmy told us of his decision and we decided not to argue or enquire. He will be greatly missed and we thank him for all his work at the club.''

Case added: ''I've enjoyed every minute there and I'm sure with the good crop of youngsters at the club they will go on to better things in the future. I wish them all the best.''

Saints manager Lawrie McMenemy brought Case to The Dell in March 1985 when he signed the midfield ace from Brighton for £20,000.

The master midfielder proved a revelation at The Dell where he became the Saints skipper and won the Echo Saints Player of the Year award in the 1988-89 season.

At the age of 36, the evergreen Case received a surprise call-up into a Barclays League XI as part of the Irish League centenary celebrations.

But when Ian Branfoot replaced Chris Nicholl at the end of the 1990/91 season, his first decision was to release the 37-year-old Saints captain on a free transfer.

The move proved to be a very unpop-ular one with the Saints fans who had wanted Case to succeed Nicholl despite his lack of managerial experience.

Despite wanting a break, it seems unlikely that Case will be out of football for very long. ''I've nothing lined-up at the moment but I wouldn't mind being involved at Football League level again, a scouting position or something, I would not rule anything out," he added.

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