SCARBOROUGH manager Neil Thompson has left the club by mutual consent.

His departure, announced today, comes after a testing period when the players have been paid late, cheques have bounced and the team is in a relegation spot in the Nationwide Conference.

Assistant manager Ray McHale will take charge of the team for tomorrow's Nationwide Conference home game against Nuneaton.

Thompson, who took over when Colin Addison left last summer, said: "It's time for me to move on to pastures new - wherever they may be" said Thompson, who also served the club as a player for several seasons when they first gained promotion to the Football League. He is upset at the way things have developed off the field at the club this season.

"I can walk away from here with my head held high - I am certainly not going away with my tail between my legs. It's just a pity we couldn't build on the work we started last season.

"In one way it's been a very difficult six months and I would like to thank my staff for the help they have given me since I have been here.

"I will always have a soft spot for this club. I have enjoyed my time here and we have achieved a lot of positives and I have worked my socks off, but it's time for a change."

Chief executive Ian Davison, who only returned to the club yesterday after a lengthy lay-off due to illness and had to handle negotiations with Thompson, said "I would like to thank Neil for the work he has done and he will always be welcome here.

"When Neil and I sat down we realised we were arriving at the same conclusion from different directions. This is an agreement which has been reached without any acrimony and is truly by mutual consent."

Davison added "Ray McHale will be in charge of the first team for the game against Nuneaton tomorrow, but we have a permanent replacement in mind and I am hopeful that that appointment will be made as soon as possible for the benefit of the club."

Beverley-born Thompson has had two rocky rides in his short managerial career.

He was appointed caretaker manager at York City following the sacking of Alan Little in March 1999 and appointed manager of the Minstermen two months later.

His reign at York came to an end in February 2000 "by mutual consent" after a string of poor results.

He bounced back at Scarborough where he replaced former City player Addison, but has faced an uphill struggle in recent weeks as the club continued to battle with its financial problems.

Now the responsibility for team affairs has fallen once more on the shoulders of McHale, who has been manager himself on two previous occasions as well as being assistant.

He was realistic when he spoke about what he could do for the Nuneaton game.

"I know I cannot make changes as we have so few players, I just hope that I can freshen things up a bit and try and get that first win at home."

McHale will welcome back Darryn Stamp after suspension and he will go straight into the side alongside Aron Wilford in attack

The caretaker boss is waiting on the fitness of Chris Short, but Gareth Stoker definitely misses the game after limping off in the defeat by Morecambe in midweek.

He may play with four defenders to stiffen the midfield area, but he can only tinker with the small squad in what should be a solitary game in charge before the new man takes over next week.

Scarborough v Nuneaton from: Woods, Short, Faure, Rennison, Ingram, Atkinson, Blunt, Pounder, Brodie, Stamp, Wilford, Fitzsimmons, Burt, Turley, Newton, Keegan.

Updated: 11:31 Friday, September 21, 2001