Paul Holleran has announced that long serving midfielder Joe Clarke will be leaving the club.
Clarke, who joined Brakes from Tamworth at the beginning of our second spell in the National League North back in 2017, has been a mainstay in midfield ever since, making a total of 248 appearances. The 35 year old may not have scored as many goals as he would have liked, but the 3 he did notch were all special ones, not least his strike from the halfway line in a 2-0 win at Blyth Spartans back in November 2021.
'It is with a heavy heart that I make this announcement, hot on the heels of losing Junior and Tyrone,' said the manager. 'I always thought that we could be losing a couple of boys in Junior and Joe that have been foundations in the last six or seven years. They have both been brilliant on and off the pitch.
'Joe has done a fabulous job for us. Family and work commitments mean that he won't be able to make the step back up, but he's done a great job for us and he'll do a great one at his next club. He understands the game fantastically, and as well as being a great professional, he's been a great person to have around the club as well.
'This one is hard for me, as I'm more than a football manager for people like Joe. I always knew this summer would be hard, but it is now vitally important that we maintain the Leamington DNA that these boys have helped to build. I look forward to seeing Joe again in the future, and we wish both him and his family all the best.'
Joe had the following messsge for the fans: 'I was really keen to work with the gaffer when I first signed, he has such a great reputation from all that have worked with him. Leamington has some amazing people at the club and it has been a special time in my career competing at a level where Leamington were probably not expected to be, for so long.
'Credit goes to the people at the club and especially the gaffer. Year on year he gets a great group of lads together that succeed. The disappointment of relegation last season soon forgotten by bouncing back at the first time of asking. A great achievement and an amazing moment to end my time at Leamington on. Looking forward to the next challenge, and wish the club all the best for the future, I will be supporting as a fan as I have made some great friends at the club, so won’t be away for too long.
'Up the Brakes! 💛'
