Atherstone Town manager Dale Belford has blamed the way the Zamaretto League is regionalised for the club's decision to resign because of travel costs.

The Adders have signalled their intention to drop down to the Midland Alliance at the end of the season.

"The extra travelling has put an unbelievable strain on the resources of the football club," Belford told BBC Coventry & Warwickshire.

"Whoever made the decision to put us in this league has a lot to answer for."

The Sheepy Road outfit, formed in 2004 after the liquidation of Atherstone United, are currently 14th in the Zamaretto Central and had already announced they could no longer run a playing budget this season.

But Belford has refused to blame anyone at the club for the financial problems.

"The board have been fantastic for this football club because without those types of people there wouldn't be a football club at Atherstone Town.

"As a player I always wanted to play at the highest level and it's the same with my managerial career.

"I'm looking at this being a long-term thing for me but unfortunately at the moment there's nothing else the club can do."

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