Donegal Celtic manager Stephen Small resigns

Struggling Donegal Celtic are looking for a new manager after Stephen Small's decision to resign.

Celtic are currently second from bottom in the Premiership after failing to earn a win in their opening nine games.

Small said that a "combination of results and personal pressures" had caused him to take the decision.

The manager held talks with the club's committee on Sunday morning and Small said that the decision that he should quit had been by "mutual consent".

The west Belfast outfit suffered their sixth defeat of the Premiership season in Friday's 3-1 reverse against Cliftonville.

Former Carrick Rangers manager Small was appointed to the DC job in January after previous manager Paddy Kelly quit following a major split within the club.

Small told BBC Sport that he had tendered his resignation at a meeting with club officials on Sunday morning.

"A combination of the results since the start of the season but also personal pressures as well as football pressures have led me to take this decision," he added.

"I wished the club all the best for the future and I certainly believe that I have left a good enough playing staff at the club.

"I've had very good support from the committee at the club since I took the job but ultimately results this season haven't been what I or the club would have wanted.

"We parted amicably and I hope that they stay in the division (Premiership)."

Small added that he might have been forced to resign because of his personal issues "even if results had been really good".

Back in January, a number of other coaches and committee members also joined Kelly in exiting from the club amid the interval turmoil.

Small led Carrick to the Championship title in 2010/11 but was sacked the following December after a bad run of results.