MATTY Holmes admitted his success at the helm of Wimborne Town had even surprised himself after it was announced yesterday that he had taken a new role as the club’s community and academy director of football.

The former West Ham and Cherries midfielder took charge at Magpies in May 2016, overseeing promotion into Southern League South for the first time in the club’s history in just his second season at the helm.

Wimborne last season retained their place at step three of the non-league pyramid, finishing 14th, three points clear of the relegation zone.

However, the search is on for a new boss after just six league games this season.

Discussing the decision, Matty Holmes told the Daily Echo: “Over the past six months it was playing on my mind and it is a case of looking where I want to be in the next two or three years.

“Do I want to want go and manage at a higher level? No. What I have been brought up in since I retired from playing football is the development side of things in academies. It is exciting times.”

Magpies picked up their first victory of the season on Saturday, defeating Walton Casuals 4-1 at Cuthbury after a five-game winless run.

Danny Holmes – Matty’s brother – and Shane Traynor will take charge of the first team until a new manager is appointed.

Quizzed on the timing of his decision, Matty Holmes said: “I was seriously thinking about doing it at the end of last season. We stayed up and maybe that would have been the time to do it but I thought we had to build a new squad.

“We lost Toby Holmes and Gerard Benfield. We had to look at bringing in new players and I did not want to put that on my brother and Shane. It is not a poor start to me. It is a newish team and it is the best squad we have assembled since I have been at the club.

“I just felt the squad is in safe hands. If we had been bottom of the league and I thought we were getting bashed every week, I would have felt bad about passing the job over. It is in a good place, so I have no qualms with my brother taking it on to the next level.”

Reflecting on his time in charge at Cuthbury, Matty Holmes added: “A lot of people thought I was going to fail but I surprised myself because I never thought I would be a men’s manager.

“Three years down the line we have had history-making high finishes every season, we have got the club into the highest ever league they have played in and it has been a great journey.

“It has been brilliant and I would not change it for the world.”

Matty Holmes’ new role will see him set up and oversee the club’s new academy, which launches in the coming months.