A statement from the club reads: “As a club, we would like to clarify the circumstances surrounding the departure of Steve Cunningham from the position of manager. Clearly, this was a difficult decision for the club, and we have had to think hard about how we approached this situation.

“However, given the unexpected nature of the news, we recognise that the fans deserve an explanation, and that rumours circulating do nothing to help us all move on as a club at this critical moment.

“Steve was immensely popular at Curzon and, after an aborted 2020/21 season, had really started to show why the club had placed so much trust in him when appointing him as manager, moving up to a new level of football from his previous role at Colne.

“Unfortunately, last weekend, the Board became aware that Steve and his assistant Damien Crossley had been in talks with another club about their managerial position, without the knowledge of the club, together with a serious breach of club discipline and at a time when we would have expected that the focus would have been on the upcoming FA Cup tie against Chesterfield. This was confirmed to us in subsequent discussions with Steve.

“As a Board, we felt that this action undermined the trust that had been in place between the club and manager. Sadly, we felt that we were left with little choice other than to find a new manager to take us forward.

“Steve is a talented manager and will be missed at Curzon Ashton. We whole-heartedly wish him well in his future.

Player-coach Craig Mahon has accepted an offer to act as interim manager.

Already a firm favourite with fans, Mahon brings a wealth of footballing experience to the role, and the club have every confidence in his ability to continue to build on the progress the team has made this season, while the club determines the best way forward for the longer-term.

Mahon will be supported in his new role by goalkeeper coach Neil Gillespie and coach Jack Salkeld.