IAN Rowe says he is ready for his next challenge after guiding Gornal Athletic to third place in the Midland Alliance table.

A second win in a fortnight over champions Stratford Town, along with a 2-2 draw against Highgate United and a 3-2 defeat of Ellesmere Rangers in their remaining three fixtures were not enough to pip Westfields for second spot.

After three years in charge at Gornal, in which he steered the club to the West Midlands Regional title and the last eight of the FA Vase and enjoyed success in the FA Cup, Rowe says he has no second thoughts about departing the Garden Walk Stadium.

He said: “I like to think I’m leaving the club in a better position than when I took over. “But we were only five points off winning the league which if we had won we wouldn’t have been able to go up — that would have been hard to take.

“We beat Stratford, Westfeids and fourth-placed Stourport Swifts home and away this season and though the table doesn’t suggest it, I think we were a better team than Stratford, but because of Vase commitments we played 12 more games than them. “We also drew 11 games and over the season that has cost us.

“There have been ups and downs but I’ve enjoyed my time there, the lads have put Gornal on the map with unprecedented success. “We never finished out of the top three in my time at the club and we got further in the Vase every year so if I’d stayed another season who knows? “I feel I’ve taken the club as far as I can now and it’s time for someone else to take it on.”

Walsall-based Rowe says as yet the phone has not been ringing red hot with job offers but he is happy to bide his time before embarking on any new ventures, with travelling a consideration due to work commitments.

“Travelling would be an issue as football is my hobby, it doesn’t pay the bills, but it’s in the blood and if the right job doesn’t come along straight away I’ll keep my hand in watching a few games.

“I think my CV is as good as anyone’s locally, if not better, but I won’t take a job for the sake of it. “It has to be the right move for me and my ‘team’ and if that means taking a step back to move forward then so be it.”