Ian Edge insists he could have done no more to turn around the fortunes of Huntingdon Town.

Edge called time on his near eight-month reign after Town crashed out of the FA Vase last Saturday when suffering a 4-1 loss at lower-level Downham Town in the first qualifying round.

The latest in a long line of disappointing results proved to be the final straw for a manager who won only one of his 26 games in charge.

Edge, who has worked without a playing budget this season, said: “The vase game was typical of what has been happening. We were doing okay and then went to pieces once they scored.

“I’ve had a lot of pressure from family and friends who did not understand why I was bothering to carry on as manager.

“I’m not the sort of guy to just walk away when the going gets tough. I held on for as long as I could while doing the job to the best of my ability, but Saturday was the final straw and I was not going to be held to account for the results we’ve had.

“The lads are simply not good enough for the level of football and I don’t see that changing when not having any money to boost the squad. There has also been a lack of passion from them.

“It has been like trying to produce antique furniture with cheap wood and that just doesn’t happen.

“I always prepared the players properly and always had a gameplan, but we were fighting a losing battle straight from kick-off in games.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity Huntingdon gave me last season and hope the club can have a bright future.

“The experience of managing in such tough circumstances will only help me going forward.”

Huntingdon beat Sileby in Edge’s first United Counties League Premier Division game at the helm after he succeeded Seb Hayes in January.

They also drew their next fixture before losing their final 17 outings of last term and have also been beaten in eight of their nine matches in the new campaign to crash to the bottom of the league.

The only exception was a goalless FA Cup draw at Fakenham, but they then crashed 6-0 in the extra preliminary round replay.

New boss Scott Witherall, a former manager of Cambs League side Huntingdon United, takes over for a Premier Division clash against Harborough at Jubilee Park this Saturday. His new side then go to Peterborough Northern Star in the KO Cup on Tuesday.

Chairman Doug McIlwain said: “Ian handed in his resignation immediately after the game last Saturday and it was accepted straight away.

“I would like to thank Ian for his efforts while facing an uphill battle due to not being from the Huntingdon area.

“Scott takes over as manager with immediate effect. He has had success in management before and knows players locally.”