IAN Rowe says he has not spoken to any other clubs despite announcing his exit from Gornal Athletic.

Rowe stunned the Peacocks when he tendered his resignation just minutes after last Thursday’s 4-1 win over Alvechurch, claiming the club’s ambitions did not match his own.

The former Dudley Town manager will remain in charge until the end of the season before leaving the Garden Walk along with the rest of his coaching staff after three hugely successful years, which have seen the club promoted from the West Midlands Premier and reach the last eight of the FA Vase.

With the manager’s stock high, his sudden exit set tongues wagging as to a possible destination but Rowe says he has no fixed plans to join another club.

He said: “I haven’t spoken to anyone else, the reason I have chosen to announce my resignation now rather than the end of the season is because I want to allow myself time to find somewhere and for Gornal to find a replacement.

“As I stated in my letter to the club I am very ambitious and want to progress. It has become increasingly clear the long-term aspirations of the club do not fit with mine.

“At the end of the day I feel I have taken them as far as I can.”

Rowe joined Gornal from Dudley in the summer 2010 and after finishing second in his first year, they went one better last season, securing the West Midlands Premier title and claiming the BCFA Midweek Floodlit Cup.

This season has seen them quickly settle into life in the Midland Alliance and following their 4-2 win at Heather St John’s last Saturday sit fourth, three points off second spot with numerous games in hand.

In this regard his resignation has been greeted with great surprise but the News understands Rowe has become increasingly frustrated with a number of issues, notably the club’s lack of progress and organisation off the field, despite the on-field success of the past two seasons bringing in more than £25,000 in prize money.

A lack of communication between the club’s board and the first team has also been a bugbear, with many players unaware the club’s Garden Walk ground did not have the E ground grading for promotion.