Fakenham Town are looking to appoint a first team manager after caretaker boss Alex Walpole stepped down from his role.

Walpole went from managing the club's under-12s to taking charge of first team affairs after several first team squad members, unhappy with how the club was being run, refused to play for the Ghosts.

Following the postponement of a midweek Thurlow Nunn Division One game clash against Great Yarmouth Town, Walpole put together a scratch team to fulfil the Ghosts' fixture commitments.

First team players started to return to the fold as Walpole, 24, helped steady the ship at Clipbush Park whilst his record of four wins, six losses and two draws saw the club's newly-elected committee offer him the manager's job on a permanent basis.

However, Walpole has decided to focus on returning from injury in the hope of continuing his playing career.

'Fakenham Town Football Club would sincerely like to thank Alex Walpole for his commitment to the club over recent weeks, while taking up the position of first team caretaker manager,' Fakenham said in a statement on their Twitter feed.

'Alex has worked under difficult circumstances, which have been well documented, to begin with but has shown great maturity and integrity while in the role.

'His decision not to take up the position on a permanent basis now gives him time to recover from injury and we all look forward to seeing him back in amber and black in the New Year.'

In the wake of Walpole's departure Fakenham have started their search for his successor with new chairman Simon Barnes inviting applications for the post.

'The successful applicant will work with our director of football, Nolan Keeley, to maintain our position as one of the foremost teams in Norfolk,' continued the statement. 'We aim to develop young players through our very successful youth teams into senior football, whilst bringing exciting new talents to the club to maximise the team's success.

'The successful applicant will hold relevant coaching badges and be willing to work within the budgetary guidelines set out by the club's committee.'

Applicants are invited to apply in writing to club chairman Simon Barnes at Fakenham Town Football Club, Clipbush Park, Clipbush Lane, Fakenham, NR21 8SW or sbarnes539@aol.com