Armstrong guided the club from West Yorkshire League Division One through to the National League system and the NWCL Division One. 

He is not leaving the club altogether though and will focus on his role developing junior players at the club through the player development centre and sixth form scholarship program with St Mary’s School in Menston.

Armstrong told www.IlkleyTown.net: “When I look back over the last 10 years, I am really pleased at what we have been able to achieve. It has been incredible to achieve the ambition of reaching non-league football this season. It’s a fabulous squad of players and I have really enjoyed my time with them. The time is now right for me to move on and focus on new challenges. Developing young players and building a pathway from the junior teams into the men and women’s first team is my next challenge and one I am excited about. We have built the AW Academy and scholarship with St Mary’s in the last 3 years, and I want to build on that to help Ilkley’s young players achieve excellence.”

Club chairman Richard Giles said: “Simon has been an outstanding manager for the club. He has moved the first team to the next level and reaching the North West Counties league is a historic achievement for the club and the town. I am pleased that Simon will continue to play a big part in the future of the club and focus his coaching expertise on developing the next generation of footballers in Ilkley”.