WIVELISCOMBE Rugby Club coaches Peter and his cousin Brian Stone have stepped down.

The pair have been running the lst XV in Western Counties West, along with another former player, Rob Weaver.

Wiveliscombe just managed to avoid relegation last season and Peter said: “I think the time is right. I don’t think we had the commitment from some players.

“I’m also coming off the executive committee but will still be involved in some of the other jobs I do, which includes looking after our two pitches. Rob will continue to be involved with the first team when he can.”

The club’s director of rugby, Jake Sharland, said the first team had gone from the foot of Somerset Premier to Western Counties West under the pair.

“A lot of success can be attributed to the duo with endless hours spent on the training field. In fact, the pair coached a lot of the squad right up through from the Under 12s,” he said.

“We would hope they wish to continue to be involved at the club in one way or another. But this does mean the position of club coach is being advertised and we will be looking to recruit when possible to do so. At the moment we do not have a playing budget because of things beyond our control. We’re under no illusions that we would have hoped for a better finishing position. I think most players under-estimated the step up in the physicality and fitness shown by some of our opposition throughout the season.

“We realise the only way to improve is to be playing lst XV rugby at this level and learning from our counterparts – both on and off the field.

“There are also changes taking place off the field this summer, notably the departure of chairman Gary Sharland, and we need someone to replace him, although he will still be around the club.

“The honorary treasurer, Monika Aplin, has also stepped down and she is being replaced by Liz Greenway.”