After two and half seasons at Butlin Road, Billy Jeffrey has tendered his resignation as manager of Rugby Town.

	Billy joined Rugby in June 2005 and gained 15th and 17th place finishes for Valley in the BGB Premier

Jeffrey communicated his decision to the Board in the lead-up to Valley's game at Yate, in which the team subsequently fell to a second away defeat in four days.

Club Chairman Brian Melvin said : "Billy called me on Tuesday afternoon to inform me of his intention to resign for personal reasons, which has been accepted.

"We would like to thank him for all his efforts at the club, and wish him every success in the future."

Captain Craig Herbert - who is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury - will take charge of the side on a caretaker basis in the interim period, as the club look for a successor for Jeffrey - who joined Valley at the start of the 2005-06 season after more than six years as manager at Stamford.

Town finished in 15th and 17th place in the Southern League Premier Division in his two full seasons in charge, and after Tuesday night's defeat now sit in 11th spot

Town have a blank weekend this Saturday, returning to action on Boxing Day with a trip to Corby, followed by the visit to Butlin Road of Banbury United on New Year's Day - both games have a 3 p.m. kick-off.

Jeffrey's assistant Kenny Mist will also be leaving the club.