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Manager Ben Clark has become the next member of staff out of the door at Gateshead.

The former Heed defender has been handed two weeks' notice and will leave the club, along with press officer Dominic Scurr.

That brings to an end a nine-year stay at the Vanarama National League club - and leaves the club with no members of staff.

Fans favourite Clark captained Gateshead at Wembley in the Conference Premier final in 2014.

The 36-year-old was handed his first managerial post in January when Steve Watson left for York City.

Clark's right-hand man Ian Watson was the first of three to go on Monday along with physio Annie Davis and kit man JJ O'Donnell.

The axe now appears to have fallen on Clark, who played 280 games for Gateshead, where he is revered.

With the club's future uncertain wages have not been paid on time for the second month running.

It is understood they will be covered by a £200,000 Bond placed with the National League.

(Image: NEC)

Owner Dr Ranjan Varghese blamed financial difficulties for the latest round of severe cut-backs.

There had been no official postings from the club - until they finally broke their silence today.

A statement from Varghese indicated a new direction for a club that has lurched from one crisis to another this season.

There was no mention of applying for voluntary relegation from the National League to the Northern Premier League.

"I took Gateshead FC over a week before the season started and inherited a club that was hemorrhaging money on a regular basis," said Varghese.

"This was unsustainable and I set about reducing the crippling monthly financial losses down to a more manageable figure.

"This has proved to be a significant challenge given the limited number of regular fans coming through the turnstiles.

"Over the past ten months we have had to make some very tough decisions that weren't always popular and weren't made lightly.

"They were crucial to ensuring the club's survival and these past few days in particular have been very difficult."

Clark, Watson, Davis and O'Donnell, however, will all need to replaced and debts of around £50,000 remain.

Another club statement on Friday after the appointment of two new directors stated:

"Gateshead is still officially up for sale and the newly-appointed directors will stay at the club until it is sold."

Former Rochdale chairman Chris Dunphy had agreed a deal in principle to buy the club.

(Image: NCJ Media)

That deal appears to be dead in the water with the current unpopular regime set to soldier on.

Gateshead were kicked out of their International Stadium base for the last 42 years for substantial rent arrears.

Gateshead Council will not allow the present regime to play at the International Stadium unless the debt is settled.

Any future rate is likely to be more than the lower one the club has paid in recent years.

Varghese has now indicated Gateshead will no longer play at the International Stadium and will relocate - a decision that has been made without any consultation with the club's fan base.

"It has become more and more apparent that the International Stadium is not ideal," Varghese added.

"We have been working hard behind the scenes to identify an appropriate venue that could become our new home.

"We are currently exploring several options and expect to make an exciting announcement in the coming weeks."

Newcastle Falcons Kingston Park Stadium , five miles from Gateshead, has been touted at the Heed's new home.

A 10-year guarantee of tenure, however, will be required to satisfy the National League, and the League may not sanction what would be an unpopular move across the Tyne for Heed fans.

Should Gateshead get back into the Football League, they would not be able to play on the current plastic pitch at Kingston Park.

Angry Gateshead fans have threatened a boycott next season if those currently involved remain in control.

There has been talk of forming a "phoenix club" way down the football pyramid.

Supporters Association Gateshead Soul are holding an open meeting at Pelaw Social Club on Wednesday.

"Nothing is clear or transparent with the current regime," said a Gateshead Soul statement. "We strongly feel they are not fit to be involved with our once great club.

"We need to consider our position and where we go from here.

"That includes the prospect of having no other alternative but to form a phoenix club."

Gateshead, in its current form, is at the crossroads, the relationship between the club and the Heed Army fractured.

May promises to be a big month and whether the Tynesiders retain their fifth-tier status remains to be seen.

Gateshead