Mark Clyde to leave AFC Bridgnorth

The 33-year-old former Wolves and Northern Ireland defender is spending more time helping his mother, who is battling leukaemia, and may leave the area to be closer to other family members.

Clyde told his players at last night's TJ Vickers Shropshire County Cup final against Market Drayton at Shrewsbury Town's Greenhous Meadow.

He said: "I will be stepping away from everything with regards to football. The main reason is family issues.

"But also if I'm going to be spending a lot of time doing something it's got to be something that's worth my while because I can't afford to give up my time."

Clyde, who held a fundraising game with former Wolves team-mates in October to help his mother, believes football has taken a back seat while he helps her.

He said: "I have missed a bit of the season through family issues which are in the background all the time.

"My mum is OK – she carries on and gets on with it, but as anyone in this situation will know, it's difficult and I've had to abandon things several times with football."

Clyde admitted he didn't think he would be announcing the news just yet.

He said: "The news wasn't supposed to come out yet but I had to announce it last night because it has been put out there.

"A lot of people have speculated on it but now it's going to happen, 100 per cent, so as of now it won't be hidden from view."

Clyde was forced to retire as a player at the age of 24 in 2007 through injury.

Helping Wolves to the Premier League via the play-offs in 2002-03, he appeared in the top flight and made 53 appearances for the club, winning three full caps for Northern Ireland.

After two years playing Worcester City, he was appointed as Bridgnorth Town boss in June 2011, succeeding Lee Mills.

He steered them to a club record highest finish of seventh in the Midlands Alliance in his second season in charge, 2012-13.

When the club was reformed as AFC Bridgnorth and demoted two divisions, he won the West Midlands League Division One.

He then twice finished runners-up in the West Midlands League Premier Division, also taking them to two Shropshire County Cup finals.