MARK Devlin insists his County Ground exit has not left him bitter and says there is there is nothing quite like dicing with death to fix your focus on the future and help draw a line under the past.

The club's former chief executive (left) is now seeking a fresh challenge after resigning his County Ground post yesterday.

Devlin has not been at his desk since sustaining life-threatening injuries in an August plane crash which also saw son Stan, Bill Power and Mike Sullivan seriously injured.

Relations with the board then turned increasingly sour with claims of a £750,000 overspend and the club claiming disciplinary' proceedings would follow.

However, employee and club now appear to have parted company in relatively amicable fashion and Devlin is anxious not to dwell on the past.

He said: "It is time to draw a line in the sand and it is time to move on. You can't look back and be bitter. There are other opportunities which I'm looking at and we'll see what happens."

Whatever the future may hold for Devlin, he has nothing but good wishes for the club he leaves behind.

He said: "I'd like to think I've helped in building a platform for the future.

"I would love nothing more to see this season end with a promotion back to League One."

Devlin first arrived at the County Ground in June 2002 and laid out his three-year vision for Town to become a top 30 club.

That never quite materialised but the outgoing chief executive believes he made a difference and a difference he can be proud of.

One of the first things he did was replace the club's ancient lawnmower while also beginning the task of repairing the communication links with an alienated fan base and business community.

Devlin said: "Ah, the lawnmower. Well you have to start somewhere.

"As for the fans, I'd like to think that one of the things I achieved (in a two-stint spell at the County Ground) was to communicate with the fans, even though it wasn't always going to be what they wanted to hear."

As he continues the fight for full fitness, Devlin said the plane crash had changed his outlook on life.

He said: "The crash did bring a few things home to me.

"I think you begin to really appreciate what is really important.

"There are other opportunities presenting themselves and I'd like to explore them.

"But as I've said, I wish the club all the best for the future and hope players and supporters can enjoy some success."