Lye Town will be looking for a new manager for the first time in 10 years following the shock departure of Geoff Moss on the night of his testimonial.

The out-going boss was informed his services as manager were no longer needed after speaking to club chairman Tony Archer at his testimonial evening last Friday.

Moss had guided the Stourbridge Road side to a mid-table finish in the West Midlands Premier Division.

However, the club committee made the difficult decision to relieve the well-known Black Country footballing figure from his role as team manager in a bid to move the club to the next level.

Archer said: "The committee decided that for next season we would be looking to bring in a new manager for the first team in a a bid to freshen things up.

"This decision was not made lightly and is no slight on Geoff because he has given this club 10 years great service on a very limited budget.

"We just felt that to take us from a mid-table side to the next level we need a new manager."

The club are keen to keep Moss on board and have offered him the role as director of football.

Archer added: "As I have discussed with Geoff we are keen to keep him in on board and have offered him a role as director of football.

"Having a first team, reserves and a youth team we are after somebody to oversee this and we believe Geoff is the ideal man.

"He has stuck with us for 10 years and with his wealth of footballing knowledge and contacts we feel he's the right man for this important role.

"However, if Geoff feels this is not for him and believes a clean break is best, with regret I and the rest of the board would like to wish him all the best and thank him for his efforts over the last 10 years beacuse he's done a brilliant job."

The out-going boss had no comment to make on his future and whether he would be taking up the new role within the club.

However, in a statement he said: "I had a meeting with the chairman and I was told I was no longer required to stay on as manager.

"After finishing in the top ten for the last six seasons with limited resources they no longer see this as good enough and are looking to move forward."