Lee Noakes believes Worthing can continue to press forward despite the boardroom changes at the club.

Chairman Noakes and fellow director Julian Church both quit the Rebels this week, citing business and family reasons.

The news came as a blow to a club that has made great strides over the last nine months.

Worthing’s financial position in recent seasons has been well documented but the club hit a new low almost a year ago following unsavoury incidents on a flight back from a game in Guernsey.

Heavy punishments followed from the Ryman League and within a month Worthing had to deal with the messy departure of joint managers Lee Brace and Kieran Collins.

Brace spoke about divisions within the boardroom in a parting shot at the club.

However, the appointment of Adam Hinshelwood as manager appeared to unite the club and Worthing have enjoyed a successful 2014 to date.

On the playing field, Hinshelwood has built a vibrant young first team that are currently on a seven-match unbeaten run and triumphed 3-0 away to Ryman premier side Dulwich Hamlet in the FA Cup last Saturday.

They are being supported now by an under-21s side and an under-18 set-up that is the envy of a number of clubs.

Off the pitch, Church was driving forward with a five-year strategy plan – which was his brief when he joined the club along with Noakes and two other directors in July 2013. A key element of that plan is the installation of a 3G pitch at Woodside Road which the club has planning permission for and would generate a significant new income stream.

The simultaneous resignation of Noakes and Church for similar reasons has led some fans to question whether there are problems behind the scenes.

But Noakes says work commitments have forced his hand and he is adamant the club can press on with its plans and the progress it has been making on the pitch.

He told The Argus: “It is fundamentally to do with work and my home life. Work was taking over and I couldn’t give the club the time it deserved.

“I was there for 14 months and I’m very pleased in what we have achieved. One of the big highlights was the introduction of the under-21s.

“We got Adam (Hinshelwood) in last season and he has proven to be a great asset for the club. We can further underpin that with the under-21s and the excellent job Ian Hart is doing with the under-18s.

“Another highlight is Julian Church was responsible for a five-year business plan we put in place. The key objective within that business plan was to have a 3G all-weather pitch where we had obtained planning permission and finance is being looked at by them now.

“Basically organisation behind the scenes has become a lot clearer, people understand their roles and responsibilities now and it runs a lot smoother.

“I hope they can continue to progress. They have some key members on the board who are motivated and I think will continue to drive it through.”

Vice-chair Deborah McKail will act as chair while “a review of roles and responsibilities is undertaken”.

Worthing are at home to Ramsgate tomorrow and Hinshelwood has a full squad to choose from.

Connor Cody, Matt Piper and Alex Laing are all available after injury and illness.