ROB Hopkins has stepped aside from running New College’s Hellenic League Division One West side due to work commitments.

Having left his teaching position at the college before Christmas, Hopkins went self-employed doing personal training for a variety of groups.

However, with that taking off and the time he had left for the Hellenic team dwindling, Hopkins felt that it was only right that he should step aside.

Former manager Mark Teasdale has taken charge of the team until the end of the campaign and oversaw Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Carterton, while Hopkins will continue to work with the club’s under 18s side.

“Because most of the people I’m now working with are only free in the evenings and weekends it meant that I couldn’t dedicate the time needed for the Hellenic boys,” Hopkins said.

“So in that respect it was an easy decision to step aside, because the lads need continuity.

“I’m still going to be involved with the Under 18s and it is great that I’m able to do that.”

Teasdale said that it was like he had never been away from the club after being in charge of his first game as he answered the club’s SOS call.

Following on from 3-1 and 5-1 losses at Shortwood United and Lydney Town respectively, New College battled hard to secure a 1-1 draw.

Josh Croucher gave the hosts the lead when he got the last touch from a goalmouth scramble following a New College corner.

However, Carterton managed to hit back as they capitalised on a lapse in the New College defence.

“It was like I’d never been away,” Teasdale said. “I was stood on the touchline, the sun was shining and I was there giving orders and encouragement from the touchline.

“I really enjoyed it. I’m here until the end of the season, see how it goes and then we’ll take it from there.

“If I’m honest, I didn’t really miss it while I was away as I’ve been involved in football one way or another all my life.

“I think that my wife had got used to having me around on a Saturday afternoon so it was probably more of a shock to her.

“I’m not sure what she will be doing now, hopefully she will come to the home games on the Saturday.”

Having come in on the back of two heavy losses, Teasdale said that he was pleased with how the players responded to him being in charge.

“The performance was very good, it was just a lapse in defence for 30 seconds that cost us two points,” he said.

Meanwhile, Purton slumped to a 1-0 home reverse to Clanfield in their Division One West meeting.