OUTGOING Lyme Regis boss Gerard Hitchcock has revealed he would prefer the Seasiders to appoint his successor from within the club.

Hitchcock, who remains on the club committee, is set to leave the managerial role for family reasons, following two seasons at Davey Fort.

Lyme achieved promotion to the Macron Devon & Exeter League Premier Division in his opening campaign and the Seasiders sat fifth when the 2019/20 season was voided due to COVID-19.

Speaking to the Bridport News, Hitchcock admitted an internal appointment would suit the Seasiders more than recruiting externally.

Commenting on the search for a new manager, he said: “(Coronavirus) has come at a time when we would probably have made enquiries. Everything’s come to a grinding halt.

“Hopefully we’ll appoint from within, that would be my preferential choice. There’s a few people out there that are possible candidates. It’s whether they want to step forward and do it.

“We’ve been on a project for a while since we’ve been in the Devon & Exeter League.

“This is my 14th season as a manager, but I progressed through. I didn’t want to take the first-team job until I fully thought I could do it, which was only in the last couple of seasons.

“Then, I’ve got there and all of a sudden this has come along.

“We’ve tried a couple of times to bring in somebody from the outside. I’m not saying somebody from the outside wouldn’t do a good job.

“But, sometimes, it’s beneficial for the players to know the person that is doing it and has some kind of connection to the club than bringing somebody in that’s maybe looking to make a name for themselves.”