Reds' chairman Andy Worrall paid tribute to "the best manager in Woodford's history", but felt unable to offer Mason a new contract because of financial constraints.

Woodford could not guarantee Mason the players' budget he wanted for next season either, so a parting of the ways became inevitable.
No new appointment will be made in the near future.

Mason too may be in no hurry to seek pastures new as he is due to get married this summer.

He leaves Woodford though with a glowing reference from Worrall.
The former Newcastle United reserve team player led Woodford to the UCL title in 2005-2006, before the Reds finished a respectable eighth in their first attempt at Southern League Midlands Division level.

As high as second in the table early last season, Woodford also boasted FA Cup successes over Conference side Redditch United and Unibond League high-fliers Buxton during Mason's tenure.

Financial problems surfaced at Byfield Road before Christmas and under-contract goalkeeper Matt Finlay and local lad Tom Fountain are the only surviving members of last season's successful first team squad.

With largely reserve team youngsters to call upon the Reds have gone 13 league games without a win since beating relegated Berkhamsted 3-1 on February 12.

Chairman Worrall will wait until after the weekend before considering a replacement for Mason.

Ex-Byfield Road favourite Jason Burnham is not expected to feature as the grapevine suggests he will get the Welllingborough Town job next season.

A more likely choice would be Darren Tank, who won a UCL championship medal with Ford Sports in 2000, before enjoying a successful spell as Leamington's assistant manager.

Worrall admitted the uncertainty over Mason's future had led to a couple of would-be managers telephoning him in the last couple of months.

"I'll probably sit down on Sunday morning and consider the options," he said,

There will also be a vacancy at Brackley Town, as David Oldfield is quitting the St James Park hot seat to become reserve team manager of promoted Peterbo-rough United.