Sean Regan admitted he had mixed feelings about leaving his role with Liversedge as he felt there was unfinished business after he was offered a once in a lifetime opportunity.

The departing Sedge manager is leaving behind the non-league scene and his day job with the West Riding County FA to become a full-time football coach.

“It will be totally new for me. Full time at a pro club was something I never even dared dream about,” said Regan, who is taking up a position with Scunthorpe United’s academy.

He and his assistant Billy Miller bowed out at Clayborn last Sunday when Liversedge took on a Legends XI, including Wayne Jacobs and Peter Beagrie, for the club’s centenary and to raise money for the British Liver Trust.

Regan said: “It will be completely different to what I have been doing. I have been spending my days in meetings and on courses, the evenings running a non-league club and the weekends trying to get results. It has been hectic.

“There was so much day-to-day stuff attached to being manager at Sedge that Billy did most of the training and coaching. I missed that but with the Scunthorpe job I will be back doing it.

“There is no point getting all your coaching qualifications if you’re not going to be using them, so I’m thrilled to bits.

“When you are offered an opportunity like that, you grasp it with both hands. I took advice from people I know throughout the game and was told to definitely go for it because these jobs are like gold dust.”

Sedge approached Miller to stay on as they sought continuity but he decided that he had come with Regan and would leave at the same time. He has commitments of his own with Darlington Town’s youth set-up.

Despite the short notice Regan was able to give the club, it was not long before the grapevine swung into action and candidates were coming forward. Replacements were quickly found in Stewart Waddington and Adam Hughes, who had worked together at Glasshoughton Welfare.

Regan feels the new men have the potential for the best possible start. He said: “I think Billy and myself have done well in our time and progressed the club. I wish them all the best for the future and believe they have a good base now, a firm foundation, to push on again.

“A lot of the players said they were only at Sedge because we (Regan and Miller) were, but they have all said they will see what the new management team can do and will give them a chance.

“It’s a shame for me that I won’t be working with Billy because that was the best partnership I have had in football. He is a very good coach who has worked his socks of for the club and I hope we work together again somewhere down the line. Billy is destined for big things.”