REDDITCH United's coach Kim Casey has left the Valley and returned to Moor Green.

The former Kidderminster Harriers legend has gone back to his love of the Moorlands and reformed his volatile relationship with Moors boss Bob Faulkner after 18 months at the Valley.

Reds boss Rod Brown said club captain, Mark Taylor, will be stepping into the role as player coach.

He added: "It's been a disappointing week with Kim leaving us and obviously being knocked out of the FA Cup.

"Moor Green is his club. He did leave Moor Green because he fell out with the manager Bob Faulkner and he's gone back to the same manager.

"I don't see it as a step forward for him - if he'd gone there as manager it would be different.

"Redditch United isn't about one person - it's about a team effort and it'll be business as usual at the club.

"I won't be going into the market for another coach, we have a good formula here and bringing someone else in with fresh ideas could be more disruptive than productive. It would be different if we were at the bottom of the league.

"He can walk away with his head held high - I can't fault what he's done for the club. In some respects we were lucky while we had him but it was his choice and the club will move on."

Redditch United chairman Pat Cremin said: "I'm bitterly disappointed that he's gone.

"He's done a good job for us -I just can't understand why he's left us at the top of the league - I can only assume it's not for a footballing reason."

The Casey shock comes at a time when things are looking rosy for the club - on and off the pitch.

Brown's men shot to the top of the Dr Martens Western League on Saturday after their 2-0 victory over Swindon Supermarine.

Being crowned champions next May would see them go into play off with the winners of the Dr Martens Eastern League. The victors would then take on whichever team finishes 14th in the Dr Martens Premier to take a seat at the newly-structured Nationwide Conference table (North or South).

Redditch are also set to cash in to the tune of £1,800 after landing a home tie in the FA Trophy with Cirencester on November 1.