Blondel signals end of second managerial spell

RAY BLONDEL is to step down as Vale Rec manager at the end of the season. The man who led the yellow-and-greens to the Priaulx championship in two separate spells as boss said yesterday it was simply time to put himself first and he would not be staying in football after the end of the current campaign.

'I was hoping to do it for three years. People may look and say, ''He's going only because he hasn't won anything this year,'' but far from it.

'I have enjoyed the challenge, almost as much as last year because of the number of players we've had unavailable.

'When you lose six strikers, you are going to struggle to put the ball in the net,' said the man who will give his final team talk when Vale play Sylvans at St Peter's on 3 April.

Tony Blondel, Ray's elder brother and Vale club president, said he had known of the manager's decision for four or five weeks.

'We haven't put any pressure on him to change his mind.'

As for a replacement, the club president said it was too early to give an indication.

'We will be talking to the players and, particularly, to the club captain, Jody Bisson.

'We're looking within the club at present but it doesn't have to be someone in the club.'

The president said that Ray's assistants, Kevin Le Tissier and John Reid, had every intention of staying on.

n?BELGRAVES' talented Youth Two star Billy Page is expected to have trials with Premiership Portsmouth.

Page was looked at by Southampton while on the recent Star Trophy tour but was not made an offer.

The youngster was on target as Bels revived their Youth Two title hopes by coming from behind to beat St Martin' 4-2 on Monday night. On the same evening rivals Vale Rec dropped two valuable points in a 1-1 draw with North.

Meanwhile North and St Martin's will meet in the Rouget Cup final after each won their semi-final 3-0 yesterday evening.