SHAWBURY United stalwart Dave Richards is hoping that joint boss Stu Lewis will have a change of heart and return to the ailing West Midlands Premier League side.

The manager resigned on Saturday morning moments after having to cancel his side’s match with Shropshire rivals Haughmond due to a lack of players.

But Richards, who has played for and managed the club over the years, said he was hopeful Lewis would return to the set-up although he admits it looks like being a tough couple of years for the exiled side.

“Stu has done a good job this season but was frustrated at the situation on Saturday,” Richards explained. “He’s joint manager but I’ve not been much help due to other commitments. I’m just hoping he will have a change of heart.

“I have been connected with Shawbury United for many years along with a number of others and we’ve been in situations far worse than this. We might have to go through a couple of hard years but we certainly won’t be throwing the towel in.”

Richards explained that the priority for the club was to return to their Shawbury home and to a new ground in 18 months time.

“We have had to play at Ludlow through no fault of our own. It was a decision pushed on us. Our target for the past four years has been raise the money to allow us to return home to a ground with a 3G pitch and facilities that we are proud of.

“Our fundraising remains on target and hopefully in 18 months time we will be able to sit in our new clubhouse and remember the day we had to call off our match with Haughmond.”

Richards added that talks were taking place with league officials ahead of games with AFC Bridgnorth, Hereford Lads Club and Dudley Sports which are pencilled in during October.

“Our vision was to use the lads from the u18s along with seven or eight of the more senior players,” he explained. “Losing four or five of those senior players through injury or suspension means we have had to include 15 and 16-year-olds while the u18s have been playing four times a week.”