GEORGE Rooney has outlined his reasons for leaving Bromsgrove Rovers after just four months in charge.

The former Worcester City boss left the Victoria Ground this week, having struggled with a lack of cash which had seen a young side slump to 20th place in the Dr Martens League Western Division.

He said that the club's off-the-field problems, with chief executive Pat Bannister's long-running battle to secure the majority shareholding of the club from former chairman Stuart Arnold, was one of the chief reasons.

He said: "I had a chat with Pat and we decided that it was best for everyone concerned that I stepped aside.

"To be honest it was just a matter of surviving this season, and it was from day one.

"It was a nice challenge on the face of it and it's a great club, but there are a lot of off-the-pitch activities going on at Bromsgrove and I just feel it is better if I walk away from it."

Rooney is undecided about his future but says he may go back to a scouting role, having done that for Aston Villa before joining Bromsgrove back in June.

Eric McManus has been appointed caretaker manager for the next few matches -- combining his role with Derby County's Director of Recruitment --while Rovers begin the task of looking for a successor.

The priority now is to find someone who can arrest Rovers' rapid slide from glory.

Just eight years ago they finished runners-up in the Conference at the first attempt under Bobby Hope's management, and the following year came within two minutes of knocking First Division Barnsley out of the FA Cup.

But they are now in danger of their third relegation in four years, having won only three out of 13 league matches this season.

Bannister said: "We have to try and find someone that has experience, who knows this league and who can work within the budget."

Bannister has already moved to reinforce the squad, re-registering defen-der Alex Winstone and midfielder Kevin Jinks, who have both been playing for Westfields this season, and re-signing striker Richard Ball from Gornal Athletic.

They also hope to complete the permanent signing of Burton Albion goalkeeper Mark Jones.