AFC Emley have announced that Joe Howson has left his post as the club's first team manager by mutual consent.

The Pewits find themselves in fifteenth spot in Toolstation NCEL Division One after a disappointing December where they picked up just one point from the twelve on offer with the latest match ending in a 4-1 home defeat on Saturday at the hands of Ollerton Town.

Howson, who had been in the role since May 2017, made his way up through the ranks having previously guided the club's Development Squad to league and County Cup glory before he became the first team's assistant boss and then took over the main job from Darren Hepworth at the end of the 2016/17 season.

AFC Emley chairman Nigel Wakefield said: "There's a huge amount of respect and goodwill for Joe across the club and we give thanks to him for his efforts over the past season and a half.

"Last season was a difficult one and Joe steadied the ship through a transitional season.

"We all expected to be able to push on and improve this time around but that hasn't happened so this allows us to make a change to try and improve results."

Howson's assistant James Mahoney has also left the club who say a further statement about the managerial situtation will be made in due course.