 Ratcliffe has decided to step down |
Kevin Ratcliffe has resigned as manager of Shrewsbury Town following their relegation from the Football League. Defeat to Carlisle on Tuesday evening ended the Shrews' 53-year stay in the League and Ratcliffe has paid the ultimate price by leaving his post.
Despite knocking Everton out of the FA Cup in January, Shrewsbury have failed to reproduce the same kind of form during the remainder of the league season.
And Ratcliffe, who took over the Gay Meadow hot-seat from Jake King in November 1999 after more than four years at Chester, admitted responsibility for Shrewsbury's demise.
"I am responsible for the team, and 90% of the players that are here are my players," he told the club's website.
"And however painful it is for me, I feel I have no other option than to resign from my post as manager of Shrewsbury Town.
"Like in any other business, you are judged by your results and, when you look at the league season, it will be judged as a failure.
"The buck stops with me as I've brought in the players, I've picked the team but, at the end of the day, we haven't been good enough over the season.
"We've been good enough for individual games but collectively over the season, we haven't been good enough, and that is what you are judged on and not cup games."
He added: "I do feel so sad that it has come to this as I've come here to do a job and haven't achieved that, and that is a great disappointment to me.
"I couldn't have asked any more from the chairman and board. They have been so supportive through my time.
"I have worked hard to bring success to the club, and that nearly came last season when we just missed out on the play-offs.
"The club has got to move on, and I feel that it is in a better position financially than when I arrived here.
"I would like to wish Shrewbury Town and their fans every success in the future."
MMIX
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