HARTLEY Wintney Football Club’s first-team managers Ross Weatherstone and Tyrone Newton have resigned following a poor start to the season.

Their departure comes despite the Row celebrating their first home win of the season just twenty-four hours earlier, defeating fellow league strugglers North Leigh by a solitary goal.

Hartley Wintney have confirmed that a caretaker management team have taken the reins of the first team ahead of a final decision on a permanent replacement.

Director of Football and former first team manager, Anthony Millerick, alongside former Leatherhead manager and Hartley Wintney coach, Luke Tuffs, and former Hartley Wintney assistant manager, Steve Noakes, will guide the team through its upcoming league games at home to Yate Town and Hendon.

READ MORE: Hartley Wintney grab first win of the season

The departure of Weatherstone and Newton does not come as a huge shock, considering the poor run of form. The Row made early exits from the FA Cup, FA Trophy and Hampshire Senior Cup, and sit in the relegation zone in Southern Premier South.

However, the team has been plagued with injuries to key players, which meant the managers were forced into bringing in new faces each week.

Weatherstone, an ex-professional footballer who co-runs a youth academy and had been heavily involved with the North Hampshire club's under 23 team over recent seasons, leaves his post after six months in the role following a disappointing start to the season.

Tyrone Newton had been involved in the first team coaching set-up at Hartley Wintney during the two Covid-interrupted seasons, having joined as a player in 2019. He became joint first team manager with Ross in the summer when Anthony Millerick stepped down.

In a statement, Ross Weatherstone said: "Following the resignation of Ty Newton earlier today, I feel as joint manager it is my duty to step aside with him, as we came into the role together.

"Hartley Wintney FC is a great football club, and I am honoured for the opportunity to have managed this great club. I look forward to being back in a first team dug-out again at some point. For now, I am pleased to remain at the club, working with Andy in the U23's and supporting the whole club onto a successful season."