ANDY Douthwaite has resigned as coach at Hereford Rugby Club after a 15-year association with the club as a player and official.

The head of PE at Hereford Sixth Form College, Douthwaite joined the Wyesiders as a player in 1986 and for the past seven years had been part of the coaching set- up at the club.

He cites his main reason for opting out part way through the season as a lack of commitment by some of the first team squad.

"Some players were not prepared to make the commitment necessary at the Midlands 1 level," said Douthwaite.

"I was responsible for the preparation of the team in terms of strategy and tactics at the Thursday training sessions and frequently there was barely half the team present.

"Mark Morrison took the Tuesday sessions with an emphasis on fitness and ball related skills and I used to co-ordinate with Mark in preparing the team for the Saturday match.

"I made my decision at the Thursday training session following the Midlands 1 match at Dunstablians.

"I was the only club official to accompany the team to Dunstable, and we travelled with just 15 players.

"But it was the fact that only eight of the first team squad turned up for training before the Intermediate Cup match against Malvern which made up my mind."

Douthwaite, who coach-ed Hereford during their spell in the National League, had decided to step down after the 1999 season, but came back to help out after the first team coach Chris Johnson left the club early last season in the Midlands 1 campaign. The club recovered from a poor start to finish in the top half of the table.

Club chairman Guy Griffiths said: "Andy has made a big contribution towards Hereford rugby and will be missed."

He said that Morrison would continue to look after Tuesday training, but prior commitments prevented him from helping out on Thursdays. Those sessions would be taken by former club lock forward Spencer Goodall and current player Ivan Powell.

lHereford's Midlands 1 match against Leicester Lions was postponed on Saturday because the Wyeside pitch was waterlogged.