FORMER Yate Town ace Darren Edwards has wished the club well for the Evo-Stik Southern League Division One South and West league season after leaving Lodge Road last week.

Edwards, 36, was Yate Town’s top scorer last season but, with a lot of work commitments, the Westbury-on-Trym-based striker was finding the mix of work and football at Lodge Road too much.

He played in Yate’s pre-season games and in the first week of matches in the new league campaign before deciding to quit.

As well as leading the team up front, Edwards became the club’s interim player-manager for the final month of the last campaign following the resignation of previous manager Craig Laird in March.

He was succeeded by current Bluebells boss Paul Britton but said his first experience of being in charge of a club was good.

Edwards said: “I am really grateful to everyone at the club and last season, I had a great experience. Even when I was managing and we did not win a game, I learnt so much from that.

“I learnt a hell of a lot about being a manager and how lonely it can be. It gave me a look at the other side of the fence and I realise that management is not easy.”

Edwards arrived at Lodge Road for a second spell in 2014 via Gloucester City, where he scored 54 goals in 137 appearances, and Mangotsfield United. He also played for Bath City, Tiverton Town and Chippenham Town.

The striker added: “I would like to wish Yate well. It’s a good club and I thoroughly enjoyed my time there. It’s been a fantastic experience.

“I made some friends and, although some of the football results were not as we liked, I was top scorer last season and it’s been a lot of fun.”

He is not thinking about retirement yet, and added: “I still want to play.”

Meanwhile, Yate are still looking for their first league win of the season as they lay in the bottom three of the table after four games alongside Wantage Town and Bridgwater Town.

This Saturday, Britton’s side face a tough clash at home to fourth-placed Wimborne Town and Yate then face a big test away at neighbours and rivals Mangotsfield United on Monday.