Former Celt steps down as boss

Paul Hartley has surprisingly resigned as manager of Alloa Athletic.

The former Celtic midfielder has transformed the club with back-to-back promotions with the club sitting comfortably in the Championship despite falling out of the play-off places after a run of four defeats and a draw in their last five matches.

Alloa lost 5-1 at home to Dumbarton yesterday with Hartley explaining to the Alloa Advertiser why he had stepped down.

“The decision is nothing to do with getting beat 5-1 because I have had bad results in my two-and-a-half-years here,” the 37-year-old said.

“I just felt that over the past few weeks that my time at the club was up and our journey together has come to a natural end.

“I think it is time for someone else to come in and regenerate the players again.

“I have had a great two-and-a-half years here but it wasn’t a split second decision, it is something I have been mulling over for the past few weeks and I feel it is the right thing to do.”

Alloan chairman Mike Mulraney said: “The manager and I have had a chat and while I would rather he hadn’t made this decision, and we have had a long discussion about why he has made that decision.

“I respect the fact that if it’s how he feels and what he wants to do, his relationship with myself is one that is that I respect that decision.

“It’s not one that I wanted him to make but I am not happy he has made this decision but is one I do respect regardless of my personal feelings about it.”

In November Hartley was interviewed for the Inverness Caley Thistle job and is certain to be linked with any managerial vacancies coming up in Scottish football.

He joined Celtic in a £1m deal from Hearts in January 2007 and played a major role in the dramatic SPL title success in 2007/08.

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