A MEMBER of the St Albans City board has resigned after becoming "frustrated" by the running of the club.

Ian Ridley announced, this week, he was stepping down after a year at Clarence Park in which the side was promoted from the Conference South to the pinnacle of non-league football.

In a statement to the St Albans Observer he said: "I am a little disappointed and frustrated at not being involved in the running of the club as much as I would like to have been.

"But I have enjoyed my year on the board. I wish Saints well and hope they stay in the Nationwide Conference, and will continue to watch them when I get the opportunity."

Ridley, a former chairman of fellow Conference side Weymouth was brought in by chairman, John Gibson, because of his contacts and media expertise offered from working for a national newspaper.

Gibson has been ill over Christmas and said he has not had a chance to talk to Ridley to see if he is definateley parting company with the Clarence Park set up.

It is believed part of Ridley's frustration is the chairman's reluctance to bring in older professionals such as 40-year-old Steve Claridge, who was player/manager at Weymouth when Ridley was at the south coast side.

Gibson said: "There was some frustration around bringing in some experienced professional players to the club - the likes of Steve Claridge.

"But manager Colin Lippiatt is looking for young lads to graft their way up.

"From a club point of view we want lads that are on their way up, not old pros on the way down, collecting their money and not trying too hard for it."