RYAN Beck has stepped down as captain of New Milton following their failure to win promotion to the top flight of the Southern Premier League.

The Green & Golds had led Division One for all but the final week of the season and were pipped to the championship by 2012 winners Sarisbury Athletic.

Sarisbury clinched the title with a four-wicket win over Bournemouth yesterday, while New Milton brought down the curtain on their campaign with a tie against Basingstoke & North Hants.

Despite winning their first nine games – including a victory over Sarisbury – New Milton suffered a disastrous August which saw them lose three times against mid-table opposition.

Beck, who had skippered New Milton for three years and led them to third place in 2013, will stay on as a player and also in his capacity as club coach and committee member.

He told the Daily Echo: “Had we been promoted, I would have done it for one more season and it would have been nice to have a crack at the top division.

“I have done it for three years and it is time for a change and to get in some new blood. We have the personnel but possibly a change in attitude here and there might put us right up there.”

Beck, who confirmed vice-captain James Park was pondering an invitation to replace him, added: “We had a very good season and second is the highest we have ever finished.

“We threw it away on a couple of occasions but also won games we could have lost and vice-versa. We celebrated after the final game and didn’t commiserate.

“Sarisbury have been the best team in this division for the past three years and they deserve to go up. They are a good bunch and I would like to wish them well for next season.”

An all-too-familiar batting collapse cost New Milton after they had reached 104 for five in pursuit of Basingstoke’s 118 for nine (Dan Loader 3-20, George Watts 3-21) with a scampered single off the final ball seeing the spoils shared (James Park 29, Nick Elliott 25).

Bournemouth, meanwhile, failed to poop the party at Allotment Road despite posting a testing 179 (Brad Schmulian 49, Jack Owens 23, Andy Hayward 21).

And although Robbie Pack (2-18) and Owens (2-21) were among the wickets, Archie Norris (63) and David Banks (52*) ensured Sarisbury would be crowned champions at 181 for six.