Stockport County can confirm that Assistant Manager Mark Beard has parted company with the club for family reasons.
We would like to thank Mark for of all his outstanding hard work since joining the club in the summer from Brighton, and we wish him all the very best in the future.
See below for a statement from Mark:
“I have loved every minute of my time at Stockport County. The manager, staff and players have been a pleasure to work with.
“After a mixed start to the season, you are starting to see the players gel, and this is down to all the hard work going on behind the scenes.
“I am a massive family man, and it was a big decision for me to leave them to come here. They have travelled around Europe with me throughout my football journey, but they have their own careers now which meant they were unable to move to Manchester with me.
“It’s been tough being away from them, and in an ideal situation I would have loved them to be part of this exciting journey at County.
“I’d like to thank the manager Simon Rusk, who was understanding of my situation. He is a fantastic manager who is working tirelessly to get this club promoted. Thanks to all the staff, who have been brilliant throughout my time here, and to the players, who are the best group of lads I have worked with. I have loved working with them on the pitch every day.
“Nothing will give me more pleasure than to be sitting in the Cheadle End (next to the bloke with the drum) for the last game of the season, to watch the lads winning promotion to League Two.”