Kevin Keehan is hoping a new manager can lead Lewes to brighter times.

His 11-month reign as Rooks boss came to an end with last night’s 2-1 defeat away to Rushden and Diamonds, their 14th Blue Square premier defeat on the trot.

Keehan had informed managing director Martin Elliott earlier in the day he was resigning although the players were not told until after the game.

His appointment was never really accepted by a number of Lewes fans and there have been calls for his head at most home games this season.

Just two weeks ago Keehan told The Argus he would not walk away but the club’s worsening situation on and off the field prompted him to rethink his future.

Keehan said: “The time has come for me to step aside and give someone else a go. If it was me I would be wanting to come in and have a go before the end of the season rather than the beginning of the season.

“It gives whoever comes in an opportunity to talk to the players, get to know them and decide if they want to keep some or not.

“The finances are stretched all the time so it releases a financial burden for the club. It may also hopefully help because there are people interested in getting involved who would be happy for me to stay. Hopefully they are still interested but it might make the transition easier for someone else who wants to come in knowing that they haven’t got to negotiate me out of it.

“There is my family to think of who are not overly happy with my treatment by some fans. Having said that there are a lot of supporters who have given me a lot of support and I am very grateful to them. The ones who want me out have won in the end but I genuinely hope that Lewes come through it all and whoever comes in can progress.”

Keehan took over as Lewes boss last April in controversial circumstances, replacing former manager Steven King just ten days after he had led them to the Blue Square south title.

During his time in charge Keehan led Lewes to just seven wins in 45 games, which includes three cup games against lesser opposition.

He leaves Lewes well adrift at the bottom of Blue Square premier and having exited all four cup competitions against sides from lower leagues.

Keehan’s vision of building a team around young, local players did not work with many proving they were not up to Blue Square premier standard. However, others have emerged from the youth team, like David Wheeler and Fred Foreman, which is why Keehan believes there is hope for the future.

He said: “I have agonised over this decision. We have known for some while we are probably going to go down but a part of me was saying ‘keep going, stay on and we will develop the youngsters’ which is what I wanted to do.

“For a club like Lewes I think that is the only way forward. We have gone down the road of paying more than other people and ultimately it doesn’t work.

“If someone wants to come in and utilise those youngsters there is a good base of them. It is just a case of trying to entice the likes of Danny (Cullip) and Barney (Barness) to stay around.”

It has been a miserable season for Lewes with off-the-field problems going hand in hand with their on-field struggles.

The club, who are now operating with less than 50% of last season’s budget, have been up for sale since the start of November and the threat of going into administration still hangs over them.

As well as first-team manager, Keehan also held the roles of commercial manager and general manager. Some people have blamed his lack of success on the commercial side for the club’s financial problems, although he refutes this.

Only ten league goals at home all season has affected attendances and only 345 turned up for their last match at the Dripping Pan against Histon.

Last night’s game was almost academic although Rhys Henry did score his first goal for Lewes.

The teenage striker cancelled out Rob Wolleaston’s first-minute opener with a super goal on six minutes, bursting into the penalty area on to Joe Keehan’s pass and dancing round goalkeeper Dale Roberts before slotting home.

The winner came from the penalty spot on 51 minutes when Chris Breach was penalising for dragging down Wolleaston and Michael Rankine sent Rikki Banks the wrong way from the spot.

Lewes will today make a caretaker appointment for Saturday’s game at home to Kidderminster.

The popular choice would be youth team bosses Jason Hopkinson and Steve Ibbitson although player-coach Cullip could also be considered. An outside bet would be former Lewes boss Jimmy Quinn until the end of the season.

Lewes: Banks 7; Barness 6, Cullip 6, Butters 6, Fisk 7; Breach 6 (sub Cox 70), Keehan 7, Wilkinson 7, Standing 6; Henry 7, Foreman 6. Subs not used: Saunders, Hall.

Booked: Wilkinson (80, foul).

Rushden: Roberts; Osano, Hope, Downer, Robinson; Burgess, Wolleaston, Beecroft, Kelly; Rankine (sub Smith 76), Tomlin. Subs not used: Jelleyman, Arthur, McGuiness, Hilliard.

Booked: Wolleaston (71 foul).

Referee: Mr S.Beck.

Attendance: 918 (15 Lewes).