More change at Stratford Town as Tweddle is latest boss to depart club
STRATFORD Town chairperson Melanie Tweddle has announced she is to stand down with immediate effect.
Tweddle, who was promoted from her position as director to chair in September 2015, cited work and personal commitments as the reason for her resignation.
The 54-year-old leaves the club in great shape, with Town currently holding their own in their second season in the Evo-Stik Southern League Premier Division.
In a short statement, Tweddle said: “Due to increasing work and personal commitments, I found it very difficult to do the job as chairperson to the required standard.”
Town’s remaining directors, Stuart Dixon, Phil Day and Simon Newbold, formally accepted Tweddle’s resignation in a board meeting last week.
A new chairperson has yet to be named, but the club say the position will be “reviewed in due course.”
A club statement said: “Stratford Town FC are sorry to announce that Melanie Tweddle has decided to stand down as chairperson due to an increase in her work and family commitments, especially the success of her recent business venture.
“Melanie has played a pivotal part in the success of the club for over ten years, joining when Stratford were based at Masons Road.
“She has guided the commercial arm of the business through the move to our excellent facilities at Knights Lane and our subsequent double promotion into the Southern Premier League.
“Every club at this level is heavily dependent on its sponsors and Melanie always managed to maximise the club’s relationships with its sponsors, even during the recent difficult years of financial stagnation and recession.
“Without her expertise, the club would not be in its current position on or off the field.
“We would like to thank her for all her efforts and wish her every success in the future.
“The club are actively seeking to appoint another commercial person as well as new members of the board who will add to the skills needed to take the club forward.
“In the meantime, it will be run by the remaining directors and the chairperson situation will be reviewed in due course.”
Town manager Carl Adams admitted he was saddened to see the back of his former boss, hailing the ‘fantastic’ work Tweddle has done at the DCS in the past 14 months as chairperson.
“It’s a shame that she’s gone as I think she’s been fantastic for the club,” said Adams.
“This club has been built on the back of what Melanie has brought in.
“She needs an awful lot of praise for that. I for one will definitely miss her. Everything I asked from her, she produced for me.”
Tweddle’s resignation follows the exit of former chairman Craig Hughes, who stood down in August 2015 following an investigation about stolen money from Stratford Golf Club funds.
Another former director, Denys Shortt, left his post in May. Shortt, CEO of DCS Group and major sponsor of the club, made the decision following his company’s relocation to Banbury.
