THE immediate playing future of Dawlish Town FC is uncertain this week following the resignation of player-manager Tony Bowker and the walk-out of the first-team squad in a row over money.

Mr Bowker quit after Saturday's 3-0 home defeat against Screwfix Direct Western League champions Bideford because the Dawlish club had announced that it could no longer pay players for loss of earnings on a Saturday morning or cover travelling expenses.

Most of the club's first-team squad also pulled out of Tuesday night's game against Premier Division leaders Brislington, but the club was able to arrange a postponement.

Tomorrow's game at Sandy Lane, the club's headquarters, against Keynsham, is likely to go ahead. Dave Cleave is expected to be caretaker manager.

The news came hard on the heels of a £3,000 sponsorship deal negotiated by Mr Bowker with a Midlands motor-home firm to pay players' expenses for the rest of the season. He described it as 'dead in the water'.

Under Mr Bowker, 43, the club was promising to reach its best-yet finish in the table. He joined as a player in 1993 and took over as player-manager in 1995.

Mr Bowker said that he had thought long and hard about his decision to resign, but had concluded that the club was not interested in Western League football.

'I was in tears, but the committee at the club appears unwilling to put itself out, so why should I any more?' he said. 'The players feel the same. They all said they were leaving as well. In fact, three have already signed for Taunton Town.'

Mr Bowker reportedly said the team had played for nothing the previous three weeks, and on Saturday they were up against players who each received an average of £120 a week in expenses. He and the first team had done their utmost for Dawlish Town without getting anything in return.

Club press officer, John Wathen, said the committee wanted to outline the facts of the situation.

'Dawlish Town Sports & Social Club is operating successfully in the hands of a group of hard-working committee volunteers.

'One of the stated aims of the club is to support football at the highest possible level. Dawlish Town first team has achieved varying degrees of success over a number of years, and more recently has re-established itself as a major force in the Screwfix Direct Western League Premier Division.'

Mr Wathen said that Mr Bowker had continued to make increasing financial demands on the sports and social club.

'As a result of his overspending of the available budget, the committee had no option but to withdraw their financial support to the Western League team.

'As a result the manager has taken the decision to resign rather than work within the current financial restrictions.'

Mr Wathen said that the committee felt that it was important for the town of Dawlish to try to maintain a Western League football team.

'Many people's first experience of Dawlish is as a visiting football supporter, and we know of many who have developed long-term relationships with the town from this introduction.

'The name of Dawlish is featured regularly in the sports pages of all regional newspapers, and results appear on all TV channels and in the national press.'

Short term, the club will seek to recruit a new first-team manager with the ability to sustain Western League football.

'But it must be emphasised that this will be without a financial commitment from the sports & social club,' said Mr Wathen.