STUDLEY have to rebuild their team for the second time this season after Adrian Mander stepped down as manager.

Mander, who also sponsored the club, handed in his resignation because of an increasingly heavy workload for his business, but it also sparked a player exodus before last week's game against .

Sean Williams, Brett Mander, Darius Darkin, Bekir Halil, James Tindall and Rico Taylor have already left, while Tom Giddings was set to join Alvechurch this week.

Top scorer Josh McKenzie has remained on board, while Mander's managerial partner Kevin Kingham has taken the reins solely as boss and drafted in coaches Brett and Dean Farrington.

Kingham had been brought in by Mander to share the work at Studley in December because his work commitments and personal issues.

The former Massey Ferguson manager has practically being in charge while Mander has attended only a handful of games over the last four weeks.

Studley chairman Barry Cromwell said: "I would first like to say many thanks to Adrian and his wife for all their support and time at the club.

"Adrian had been dealing with his father in law's illness and an increasingly heavy workload and brought Kevin in to help him.

"But he's found it difficult to juggle managing the club with his work and stepped down last week.

"We have absolutely no issue with Adrian, we've all enjoyed his time and the club and wish him the best of luck.

"We're lucky that we've got Kevin already in place, who's definitely the right man for the job.

"He's got a great attitude and has lots of contacts.

"For the second time this season we are having to rebuild, which is frustrating, but Kevin has six or seven players lined-up."

Studley went through a similar situation when Paul Smith switched to Bromsgrove Sporting earlier in the season, taking the likes of Ben Smith and Sam Wills with him.

Mander rebuilt the side and the Bees had more than held their own in the Midlands Division One.

"I must say that it is with a heavy heart that I leave. I love Studley and really enjoyed my time there," said Mander.

"But unfortunately my work load has become too much.

"The business is flying in, I must have half a million pounds of work over the next six months.

"But I leave the club in the capable hands of Kevin Kingham, who has been doing a great job in my absence."

Kingham wasted little time in drafting in Derek Wilkes and Leon Thomas last week and a host of youth team players for last Tuesday's 2-1 loss to Pilkington XXX.

He hopes to have bolstered numbers for Saturday's home clash against title-chasing Bolehall Swifts (3pm ko).

He said: "My phone has been red-hot but it's Dave Robinson and Barry who I feel sorry for, because they are great guys."