The manager who guided Huntingdon to a glorious double-success last season has stepped down.

Seb Hayes was at the helm for the vast majority of Town’s best-ever season which culminated in United Counties League KO Cup and Hinchingbrooke Cup triumphs following a second-placed Premier Division finish.

Hayes joined Huntingdon in May 2013 as assistant manager and then succeeded Ricky Marheineke as boss in October of that year.

He called time on his 15-month reign this morning (Wednesday) due to personal reasons with Huntingdon having slipped into mid-table following a poor run of form. Town had won their opening nine league matches of the season.

The club have reacted quickly to promote reserve boss Clive Hiscock into the first-team hotseat with immediate effect.

Huntingdon chairman Paul Hunt said: “Seb has been awesome as first-team manager but unfortunately feels he needs a break from the game.

“I wish Seb and his wife Vicki all the best and thank them both profusely for all Seb has achieved at this club in the last two years. He has been magnificent.

“As would be expected we have a contingency plan and we will be promoting reserve team manager Clive Hiscock to the first-team position.

“We will not panic. We will build from the bottom up and we still expect a top-four finish.”

Hiscock ‘s coaching team will feature UEFA B licence-holder Mark McIlwain which Hunt sees as a massive plus.

He added: “We have lost some good players and managers over the last few years, but a week in football can be like a lifetime.

“It is time to move on to the next phase. Wherever that may take us, we will enjoy it.”

Hayes was due to take charge of his last game when Huntingdon travelled to Harrowby last night.

He had seen Huntingdon suffer back-to-back losses in recent days with a 2-0 home defeat at the hands of Newport Pagnell last Wednesday followed by a 2-1 weekend loss at Boston Town.

Stuart Eason, who scored in both cup final triumphs last season, found the net in a rare outing for Town as his regular club St Ives were out of action.

New chief Hiscock’s first game at the helm will be a trip to Premier Division basement boys Long Buckby on Saturday.