Jersey Bulls' manager Gary Freeman and his team have stepped down following the club's most successful season to date.

A statement on the club's website says:

"Jersey Bulls football club are sad to announce that manager, Gary Freeman, and his management team have resigned from their posts at the club with immediate effect..."

The announcement comes just two days after the Bulls' promotion hopes ended with a 2-1 defeat at home to AFC Croydon Athletic in the Combined Counties South play-offs semi final.

Jersey Bulls had finished second in the league table, with a club record 79 points.

The club says it is 'immensely grateful' to Gary and his team, adding that "without their efforts we would not be the club we are today."

Gary Freeman has been in charge at the Bulls since the summer of 2019, going on to win every game of his first campaign as manager before Covid stopped play.

It's a feat he repeated the following season, until the club was halted in its tracks when the season was cut short.

A league restructure was to follow, with Gary and his team's reward for their perfect record coming with promotion to the Combined Counties Premier League South.

2021/22 was to bring a 3rd round finish in the FA Cup, and a 3rd place finish in the league.  That was followed by a second season in Step 5, a third placed finish and a fantastic FA Vase run.

That 5th round finish was equaled this season.

In his resignation letter to the Board, Gary said:

"I’d like to thank you all, for the fantastic opportunity to manage your club, it has been an unbelievable 5 years. So many wonderful memories that will stay with me for ever. The time, work, and effort everyone puts in largely goes unnoticed by others, but certainly not by me. You should be proud that you have built a football club that the Island is proud of, a place where coaches and players can grow and test themselves and the public can get behind and support"

Jersey Bulls Chairman, Russell Le Feuvre has paid tribute, saying Gary will always be a club legend.

"It has been an amazing 5 years and from the start to where we are now is testament to him and his management teams’ dedication and the commitment, they have shown the club and the Island"

The club has also thanked Gary's team:

"Kevan, just like Gary has given a tremendous amount of time, energy, and passion to the club. We would like to put on record our extreme gratitude to Kev for his dedication over the 5 years.

"There are further thank you to coach Dan Seviour and goalkeeping coach Richard Hebert who both came in during season 3. They have been fantastic additions to Gary’s boot room, and we also thank them wholeheartedly for the time and effort.

"Gary, Kev, Dan, and Rich along with all the people that play a role in the club are etched into the fabric of the club and we hope they will consent to play a part in its future. Their faces on the touch line have been at times a comforting source of familiarity. Football clubs represent their communities and hopefully the Island are as proud as we are, of how these four volunteers have represented Jersey.

"We are extremely grateful for everything Gary and the management team have done. On behalf of the Board, committee, players, volunteers and indeed our supporters, “Mèrcie bein des fais Gary!”