BURNHAM United chairman Matt Counsell has thanked departing manager Luke Hussey for his contribution to the club after he resigned his post earlier this month.

Hussey has been replaced in the managerial hot seat by Lee Vaughan, who has been appointed player/manager with immediate effect – and chairman Counsell thanked Hussey for ‘pushing the club forward’ during his time in charge.

Counsell said: “The committee, after much discussion, took the difficult decision to accept Luke’s resignation as first team manager, which he offered to the club earlier this week.

“Due to his increased role at Bristol City it has made it difficult to give the role as much time as he would have liked and with this in mind, in the best interests of both Luke and the club, we accepted.

“On behalf of both the committee we would like to thank Luke for everything he has done for the club, making it what it is today with his drive to succeed he has pushed the club forward, the changing its ethos and the culture, challenging it to continuously look to improve.

“Moving forward the committee have appointed Lee Vaughan as first team player manager with immediate effect.”

United slumped to a 3-0 defeat at home to Congresbury on Saturday – a fourth straight defeat – to leave them eighth in Somerset Division One West and without a win in five games.

They travel to Cleeve West Town – who are fourth in the division - on Saturday, before hosting Portishead Town Reserves in the Premier/First Division Cup on October 31.

Burnham United team: Anthony Cleave, Matthew Dibble, Russell Holley, Thomas Hurley, Edward Lamb, Elliot Lamb, Warren Mylum, Michael Stevens, Lee Vaughan, Dax Vincent, Finley Wilkinson; subs: James Cannard, Steve Leaf.