BRUCE Scammell is hoping his successor can take Hamworthy United to the next level after announcing his decision to step down as chairman.

Scammell, who has been associated with the Hammers for more than 20 years, is due to relinquish his position at the end of the season.

The most successful chairman in the club’s recent history, Scammell has overseen Hammers’ rise from the Dorset Combination to the Wessex League.

And during his six-year stewardship, the club has twice been crowned champions of the Dorset Premier League, won the Dorset Senior Cup and the Wessex League Cup and started entering the FA Cup and the FA Vase tournaments.

Former bosses Alex Pike and Phil Simkin have both progressed to manage at a higher level, while a number of players – including Nathan and Michael Walker, Ryan Dovell, Warren Byerley, Micky Hubbard and George Webb – have all moved up the non-league pyramid since playing for Hammers under Scammell.

A senior partner in his own Hamworthy-based independent financial advisors, Scammell has decided to vacate the post after saying he had taken the club as far as he could.

However, the 59-year-old, who also spent 10 years as the club’s president, is expected to remain on the committee at the County Ground.

He told the Daily Echo: “The club has taken up a lot of my time, which I don’t have a problem with, but I have also got a business that takes up a lot of time.

“Our industry is going through massive change at the moment and the business has to come first.

“I feel I have taken the club as far as I can. I am not finishing with the club but I want to step down as chairman and want to be able to carry on watching the team and enjoying it from a different angle.

“I hope somebody will come out of the woodwork and show an interest in the position.

“It is a wonderful club and is heading in the right direction.

“I believe somebody with drive and ambition might just take us forward.”

Scammell added: “When I came on board, I wanted us to start winning a few things and we did. The arrival of Alex Pike as manager certainly helped.

“Phil Simkin did well for a long time and kept things ticking over until we parted company.

“When Simon Browne came in, we were rock bottom of the Wessex League.

“But he kept us up in his first season and has made giant strides since he has been here.

“Our facilities are good enough to go higher and we would love to do that if we could get the infrastructure right.

“But you have got to be sensible and can’t spend money you haven’t got.

“We don’t pay wages to players, although we try to help with expenses.

“I have always prided myself on the club being well run financially and whoever takes on the chairmanship will find it in a healthy condition.”

Anybody interested in taking on the chairmanship is asked to contact club secretary Peter Gallop on 07897 959270.