Workington Reds are on the hunt for a new manager after being left stunned by Gavin Skelton’s shock decision to quit. 

Reds made the announcement yesterday that the player-manager was leaving Borough Park to join professional Scottish side Queen of the South as assistant manager. 

The Dumfries club contacted Workington Reds earlier this week requesting permission to speak to the Reds boss with a view to offering him the assistant manager job at Palmerston. 

Permission was granted, honouring a verbal agreement by the manager and the club. 

A statement from Workington Reds said: “Reds have been rocked by the news that Gavin Skelton is leaving the club. “It is a body blow to Workington and we will begin the search for Skelton’s successor immediately.” 

Skelton, 34, guided Workington to a remarkable first season in charge at the club. 

He helped mastermind a second place finish in the Evo-Stik Northern Premier Division after Reds picked up the most wins in the league. 

The team’s season came to an abrupt end after a shock 1-0 loss at home to Ilkeston in the play-off semi-finals. 

However, the campaign represented a remarkable turnaround from the disastrous 2013/2014 season in which Workington was relegated from the Conference North. 

Glenn Heathcote, Reds chairman, led the tributes to the departing manager. He said: “I am very disappointed to lose Gavin. He has been instrumental in bringing back pride to the club. “I would like to thank Gavin for everything he has done for the club and wish him good luck in his role.” 

Steve Durham, a Reds director, added: “He was inspirational on and off the pitch. He revived the club after we were relegated the year before.” 

Reds defender Gari Rowntree, 28, said: “He is a very good man manager, that’s why the lads enjoyed it with Gavin.” Gavin, who lives in Appleby, has had a successful career as a footballer. 

Following his release from Carlisle United nearly 15 years ago, Skelton played for Workington, Gretna, Kilmarnock, Hamilton Academical and Barrow before returning to Borough Park for a second time in 2013, as a player.

He then became player-manager for the 2014/2015 season. Queen of the South finished fourth in the Scottish Championship last season, the second tier of Scottish football, but lost to Rangers over two legs in the play-off quarter-finals. 

Gavin, who is the brother of television presenter Helen Skelton-Myler, has also been registered as a player for Queen of the South. 

James Fowler, manager of Queen of the South, played with Skelton at Kilmarnock. He said: “He was a model professional as a player and has an impressive record as a coach. He’s still young with fresh ideas and I believe he’ll prove to be a valuable member of my coaching team.”