STEVE Parsons has quit as manager of crisis-club Chalfont St Peter.

He and his assistant Bob Hatcher resigned on December 27, midway through a season which has seen Saints slump to the bottom of Ryman Division Three and battered by a record 13-0 at Lewes.

Saints, who are staring their second successive relegation in the face, reluctantly accepted their resignations and have moved quickly to replace them with a joint management structure.

Ex-boss Sean West returns less than two years after he was sacked by Saints for failing to earn a single point from his ten league games in charge.

He will work alongside former Saint and ex-professional Martin Dean, who will combine the role with his duties as a youth team coach at Nationwide League Brentford.

Saints are also looking to appoint a third person as player/coach. Former boss Kevin Stone, now the assistant at Flackwell Heath is the fans choice, although he has not been approached.

Saints chairman Nigel Payne admitted he was disappointed with Parsons' resignation after talking him out of quitting on a previous occasion and giving him and his assistant his full support.

Payne said: "I was extremely disappointed that both decided to walk away, after the board had given them its backing for the season.

"However this is in the past now and we must look forward to the second half of the season with a positive frame of mind."

Dean a former professional with Swindon, Brentford and Wycombe will have the final say on team selection.

"We are very lucky to have Martin's help" said Payne. "His skills, including the vital area of communication, which appears to have been sadly lacking in recent months, are very evident."

And he added: "There are many who will welcome Sean back with open arms. He's an extremely popular figure and its due to his long standing affections for the Saints that he has agreed to return to help the club now."

The Chalfont St Peter Board held an emergency players meeting last Thursday.

Payne "It was great to see so many turn out. Every one of them confirmed their commitment to the club and will work their socks off for us. Several previous players are rallying to the cause and returning and our under 18 squad have pledged their support. The club is coming together again and everyone wants to do their bit.

"The mood is one of great optimism and spirit and with the support of such a professional coaching set up we enter 2001 with high hopes for division three survival."

But the club faces a mammoth struggle to stay up. They are rooted to the bottom and are seven points shy of safety having played more games than anyone else. They have won just twice this season and have a goal difference of minus 67.

They have also lost influential player George Worley who decided to quit the Playing Fields when Parsons walked the plank.