Phil Lewin, director of golf at East Sussex National, has left by mutual agreement with the new owners.

The first casualty was chief executive Wyndham Heyring when the £9m sale was agreed with a European consortium. At the time Lewin was in Dubai and, when he returned, his office had been taken over by the new regime.

Lewin, 31, worked at ESN for eight-and-a-half years, initially employed by Brian Turne who founded the enterprise. He worked in Portugal when the Gulf War started and the assets of the Kuwaiti owners were frozen, thus delaying work on the clubhouse.

Lewin was back in 1994 as head pro under Greg Dukart and succeeded him on his return to Canada two years later. He hasn't gone straight to another job but, with several irons in the fire, doesn't expect to be kicking his heels for very long.

Lewin now has the option of resuming teaching. Giving lessons was not possible at ESN since the arrival of the David Leadbetter Acadamy which has exclusive rights under the terms of the franchise.

Not only Lewin but other members of the professional staff found themselves similarly restricted. The situation has not changed with the change of ownership and remains a sore point with the in-house pros.

When the consortium took over a pledge was made that existing contracts would be honoured. In Lewin's case it was a mutual arrangement.

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