End of an era as Aldis departs Framlingham

After seven years in the Framlingham Town dugout, Mel Aldis has decided to step down as manager.

The experienced boss has overseen the most successful period in the club’s history, guiding them from the Touchline Suffolk & Ipswich League Division One into the Thurlow Nunn League set-up.

The Castlemen are currently preparing for their first ever season at Step 5, having finished second in the First Division last term.

But they will head into uncharted territory without Aldis, who does not believe he can give the sufficient time required to run a competitive Eastern Counties Premier Division side.

Aldis currently works in France and that started to cause a logistical headache in 2017/18, with the 57-year-old forced to miss some crucial matches during the run-in.

And with the demands set to increase at a higher level, Aldis felt that the time was right to relinquish the role.

“I cannot physically do it. Flying back Friday night or early Saturday morning and going back Sunday is too much,” he said.

“It is not just about the hour before on match day and then the game – there is a lot more to being a Thurlow Nunn manager than that.

“Framlingham is a good club and they have been great to me. If I could not give them my all, which they deserve, then I knew I should not be doing the job.

“It is the right decision, but it was still such a tough one to make – one of the hardest decisions I have had to make in football.

“We have come a long way in the last three to four years.

“I have had so many nice messages and it is quite an emotional time.

“I wish the club all the best because they deserve that. The people behind the scenes are great – it is a real family club.”

The identity of Aldis’ successor is not currently known, but he will inherit a young squad filled with local players.

They excelled as a group last season, finding the net on 115 occasions while conceding a division-low 36 goals on their way to achieving promotion.

The quality of the opposition will improve, but Aldis is backing the team he has built to hold their own in the Premier Division.

“If they put in as much effort next year as they did to get promoted, they will finish mid to top half,” added Aldis, who took charge of Fram’s first ever FA Cup game last August.

“They may need a couple of experienced players to help see out games at certain points, but the local lads are good and will be competitive in that division.”