Armthorpe Welfare manager and chairman Lee Morris quits citing broken promise

Morris was appointed as boss in November 2020 and took on the role of club chairman in March 2022.

Welfare play in the Northern Counties East (NCEL) Division One – the tenth tier of English football – blamed the postponements on “the sudden resignation of the management team.”

In a statement, the club said: "Armthorpe Welfare have unfortunately had to take the decision to postpone our next three matches due to the sudden resignation of the management team.

“The committee were informed on Thursday night of the management team's decision and efforts to try and get them to reconsider were not forthcoming.

The club would like to place on record its thanks to Lee Morris and Rhys Meynell (as well as recently Nathan Helliwell) and their players for their efforts over the last nearly three years which saw last season become one of our best in recent memory.

"The club are therefore looking to receive expressions of interest from prospective new managers who should in the first instance email [email protected] with a footballing CV and their credentials to assemble a side to compete at this level of the non-league game.”

Welfare finished eighth in the NCEL Division One last season but have picked up just one point from their opening three games of the 2023/24 campaign.

In a social media post, former Rotherham United and Chesterfield striker Morris said: “It’s been a privilege to manage the club over the last two-and-a-half years and be chairman for the last 12 months.

"We, as a group, have taken the club from a relegation battle every season to missing out on the play-offs by one point last season with a shoestring budget.

"Unfortunately the club was unable to meet our financial obligation agreed to back myself and my management team, Rhys Meynell and Nathan Helliwell.

"I want to thank every one of the players, both past and present, the current group I had a meeting with tonight. Let me say this, we will meet again. Best bunch I have ever worked with.

"Can’t wait for my next role.”

Welfare were due to host Nostell Miners Welfare at the Marra Falcons Stadium on Saturday.