Manager Pete Cherry is poised to offer his resignation after Eastbourne Town failed to secure division one survival following a 1-0 defeat at Sidlesham on Saturday.

Cherry said: "I will offer my resignation as I think that is only the right thing to do but it will be up to the committee whether they choose to accept it.

"It is my team, my players which I brought in to the club and therefore it is down to me."

A goal by Lee Mould with just five minutes remaining sunk Town and condemned them to division two football for the first time in their County League history.

Victory would have seen Town overhaul Steve Richardson's Whitehawk and send them down. But another towering defensive display by Billy Gill at the heart of the Sidlesham defence thwarted all Town's efforts and spelt heartbreak for Cherry and his players.

Cherry said: "There have been rumours going around Eastbourne that these players don't care if they go down and it does not mean anything to them.

"Well they should be in my dressing room at the moment, those people who have made those wisecracks. The players are just sat there numb and completely gutted."

Town looked like beating the odds to stay up after throwing together a run of three victories all away from home, including a 7-0 drubbing of Ringmer last Saturday, which sent them to Sidlesham needing victory by any margin.

Cherry said: "The pressure these players have been under for the past few weeks has been unbelievable. It has been like Russian Roulette and unfortunately the bullet came in the final game.

"I am just so disappointed for the club because we are not one of the worst teams in this division."

Cherry does not want to give up the job and is ready to try and bring Town back up next season although he knows that will not be easy.

He said: "Someone said to me we will come straight back up but that's hard. Division two is different, teams play in different ways whereas most clubs in division one are footballing sides and it is not an easy division to get out of. Hailsham didn't come straight back up, it has taken them time."

Redhill beat Pagham 2-0 with goals by Germain Amanuel and Luke Gedling while Three Bridges drew 2-2 with visiting Ringmer.

Ringmer's Wes Tate and Curtis got the goals which gave them a 2-0 advantage before Pat Massaro struck twice to secure a point for Bridges.

Mike Legg
Results check:

Division two: Crowborough 1 (Singer 55), Crawley Down 1 (Ducker 87); Oakwood 5 (Vivian 5, 57, C. Moore 19, 20, S. Moore 86), Bosham 1 (Barnes 37); Storrington 3 (Baker 40, Pritchard 57, High 67), Wealden 2 (Woodbridge 54, 64).

Division three: Rye United 4 (Ray 28, 40, 69, Loft 87), Forest 0.

Tonight (7.45), Rich City County League division two: East Grinstead v Storrington (7.30), Oakwood v Oving, match off Wednesday, Rich City County League division two: Oakwood v Wealden (7.45).