TWO of Bromsgrove Rovers' leading and longest serving board members have stood down from their posts and another could soon follow suit.

Club secretary Phil Baker and Pete O'Connell have both resigned from the Victoria Ground board with immediate affect.

And fellow director Tony Partridge looks set to make it a treble when he discusses his position with the club at a meeting later this week.

Baker and O'Connell have been on the Rovers board since chairman Tom Herbert took over but have decided they can go no further in their roles.

Baker said he was standing down because of work commitments, adding: "I am still involved with the club and I am still doing jobs but I am no longer secretary or a director.

"Being involved with even a small football club is very demanding on time and energy.

"I have had to balance this responsibility along with my job, family and other interests. I am now finding life increasingly difficult and some matters have been neglected to both my and other people's detriment."

O'Connell, aged 67 and a respected figure in local football, joined the club before the Herbert era and was a board member for two years.

He said: "I am not enjoying the football and I am not very happy with the situation that's gone on at the club."

Partridge said he was considering his position so he could turn his attentions to forming a football academy in conjunction with Rovers and North East Worcestershire College.

"I am considering my position on the board of directors pending a meeting with the chairman on Thursday," he said.

"I want to pursue my football coaching interests at Rovers, in particular, developing a football academy for the season 2004/05."

Chairman Herbert confirmed the duo had stood down.

Coach Steve Ingram, brought in at the start of last season by Gary Hackett and Jon Ford, has also left the club.