DUDLEY Kingswinford RFC joint head coach Neil Shillingford has announced he will be stepping down at the end of the coming season.

Shillingford has been in charge at Heathbrook for the past three years and has decided the time is right to stand aside.

But he hopes his last year in charge will be a memorable one as the club aim for promotion from Midlands One West, having narrowly missed out the previous two seasons.

He said: “It’s probably the right time for me to go.

“We have had a good time and finished the job to a certain extent. I have other commitments and it’s time for a fresh start.

“We were a little bit disappointed with how last season ended.

“The only P-word we will be interested in this time is performance. I think last year we got a little distracted by talk of promotion and we slipped up early on.

“Once you have lost a few games it’s very difficult to get back on track and we need to be more consistent.”

The club have appointed two player coaches in the shape of club stalwart Pete Knight and former Stourbridge man Jon Higgins to work alongside Shillingford.

They will then take over when Shillingford steps down.

The senior coaching team will be completed by Mark Lockley, subject to his business commitments. Alan Brookes will continue in his role as fitness and conditioning coach.

Shillingford added: “From what I have seen of Pete and Jon so far I have been very impressed.

“They both have experience of a good level of rugby and I don’t think they will need all that much guidance from me.”

Higgins said: “It will be a big step to combine playing with coaching but it is something that I have been considering for some time, and see it as a logical progression in my rugby career.

“DK are an ambitious club and I look forward to being part of the success in the coming seasons both as a player and coach.”

The only loss to the senior playing squad for the coming season is powerful number 8 Andy McEwan who has moved to London through work.

Another significant summer move has seen first team hooker Adam Blackford become youth development officer as well as the club’s coaching co-ordinator.

His primary responsibility will be coaching the club’s Colts side as well as supporting the club’s under 16s and 17s from the very successful youth section.

Changes have also taken place within team management with Mark Holloway becoming first team manager.

Gary Smith and Julian Pugh will continue to look after the club’s successful development XV and Mark Pearce steps up from the under-17s manager last season to manage the colts.

DK begin their pre-season preparations when they host Cheltenham this Saturday (3pm).