Penrith Football Club and Dave Hewson have today announced that he is stepping down from his role as first team manager.
Former Workington AFC stalwart Hewson joined the Blues in mid-2019 as part of a management team headed by his predecessor, Andy Coyles.
Hewson then took permanent charge at Frenchfield Park in October that year after a four-game spell as caretaker after Coyles had departed.
Hewson — whose side lost 2-1 to an injury time goal at Crook Town in Northern League Division I this afternoon — is stepping down due to what he says is a change in personal and family circumstances.
In a statement, club chairman Billy Williams told the Herald: “David (Dabba) Hewson’s time with us has been through a most difficult time with the pandemic, playing such a big part over the last two seasons.
“My job as chairman is to assist the manager in the best possible way. I hope Dabba would agree we have enjoyed a good working relationship built on respect for each other’s position.
“As a club we sincerely thank him for his commitment to the job and fully understand and respect his reason for stepping down.
“Hopefully he leaves with good memories of the club. He will carry on as manager on a game-to-game basis for the next couple of weeks, giving us time to hopefully make a decision regarding the future management of first team affairs.”
Penrith officials have begun the search for Hewson’s successor.
Hewson said: “I can’t speak highly enough of the chairman, the volunteers and everybody involved in running that club.
“But most importantly for me it’s the players, I can’t thank them enough for the commitment over a difficult time with everything that’s gone on over the last couple of years.
“The hardest part is stepping away from the players and the dressing room. I’ve been involved in football for such a long time. It’s going to be difficult not being in that changing rom and football environment.
“I really do want to thank everyone involved at the club for their support they’ve given me over the time I’ve been there. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it.
“I’ll continue to support the players and the club in any capacity that I can until alternative arrangements are put in place.
“I just want to try and get as much as we can out of every single game for the players and the club, and that’s what we will be focusing on doing. It will be about them and making sure they’ve got everything they need to be successful in every game going forward.”
Hewson also singled out members of his back room staff during his time at Penrith — previously Chris Blake and, more recently, Mark Banks and Aaran Taylor.
“I just want to say thank you to them for their support. It’s a really difficult job and it’s a tough one to do on your own. The support I’ve had from them goes a long way and it’s much appreciated,” he said.
