WORCESTER'S Dennis Strudwick is set to retire as general manager of the Vanarama National League.

No fixed date has been set for his departure but the National League believe Strudwick will leave “in the coming months”.

After more than 50 years in the game as a player and an administrator, he was one of 150 to be selected by the Football Association to receive a grassroots hero medal in 2013 from Prince William.

Strudwick's last eight years have been spent as general manager of the Football Conference, now known as the National League.

League chairman Brian Barwick said: “Dennis has been the central cog in all that has happened in the competition since he joined in 2007.

"He has spent a lifetime in the game and was further honoured by the FA at our recent annual meeting. We are grateful that Dennis has agreed to oversee the start of the new season before he retires to a seat in the stands."

Strudwick is a former cost accountant in the construction industry and building society branch manager.

Following a 15-year part-time playing career in senior football, including more than 300 appearances for hometown club Horsham, he entered football administration with the Sussex Sunday League before spending 25 years as Southern League secretary from 1982.