INVERKEITHING Hillfield Swifts have announced the departure of co-manager Lee Duffy.

In a statement released on social media last night (Wednesday), they said that the former Rosyth and Oakley United player had "left the club with immediate effect", citing that a "new course of direction" was needed.

Duffy signed for the Ballast Bank club last summer as a player, ahead of their maiden season as a senior club, but was handed the managerial reigns last September after then boss Lee Richardson resigned.

That came after a 6-1 Alex Jack Cup loss at Edinburgh United, and the Swifts went on to finish second bottom of Conference C of the East of Scotland Football League.

During the close season, the club recruited Grant Brough as co-manager, and started the season with three successive wins in the East of Scotland Football League, First Division, Conference B.

They have won five of their seven matches to sit second in the table behind pacesetters Tynecastle, and on Saturday, played in their first cup quarter final as a senior side, losing out at home to Musselburgh Athletic in the Alex Jack Cup.

That, however, proved to be Duffy's final involvement with Inverkeithing and, on their Facebook page, they said: "The club would like to announce that Lee Duffy, first team co-manager, has left the club with immediate effect.

"The committee agreed that a new course of direction is required and the details of this will be announce shortly.

"We would like to place on record our thanks to Lee and his contribution made to the Swifts."

The Press has approached the club for further comment.