DENBIGH Town have been left reeling by the news that Eddie Maurice-Jones has stepped down from the role of manager.

The Huws Gray Alliance runners-up reluctantly accepted his resignation amid speculation of a possible move to rivals Rhyl, which has cast doubt over their future during one of the most positive times in the club’s history.

Regardless of who takes over the reins next term, this is a very attractive job for somebody to walk into given the club’s ambitions and progress they have made over the last five years.

The Central Park side have come on leaps and bounds under the stewardship of chairman Shon Powell, who has seen the club rise from Welsh Alliance also-rans' to second tier championship contenders during a wonderful spell of success.

They have also made huge strides off-the-pitch with the construction of an all-seater stand, while their junior set-up is one of the best anywhere in the region and has produced a number of players that have gone on to make an impact with the first team.

The new appointment will have plenty of work to do if Town are to replicate their highest ever league finish, with the futures of many of the squad now in doubt due to their fierce loyalty to Maurice-Jones at both Denbigh and Gresford Athletic.

Perhaps the club are paying the price for their rise to prominence, and few expected them to climb the Welsh football pyramid so rapidly, but one positive is they at least have some considerable time now to choose the right man to take them forward to ensure they remain a force to be reckoned with in the HGA.

While work commitments will probably prevent the popular Richard Williams-Cooke from taking over at the helm, there will be no shortage of applicants for the role as the club is held in such high regard throughout the footballing community.

The squad’s success was built around a talented core of young players who were all pulling in the same direction, and this has been the cornerstone of Town’s achievements in recent years and must continue if they are going to thrive going forward.

There is plenty to look forward to ahead of the new campaign, and although the HGA is going to be tougher than ever with the arrivals of Bangor City, Prestatyn Town and Conwy Borough, Town will consider themselves one of the front-runners for the title despite losing one of the best young managers anywhere in the country.

Big changes in personnel will undoubtedly come, as is always the case when a new management team is appointed, but there is a solid base from which to build to go again at a very proud club with a rich tradition of success.