Patterson 38, took over from Steve Waywell as manager of the Railwaymen in the summer having previously been a player-coach at Hilton Park and cited the reason for his departure was that he had taken the club as far as he can. Chairman Bill Taylor will now be ready to search for a successor but was sad to see Patterson go and thanked him for his efforts during his spell in charge.
As a player Patterson played for numerous clubs over a 17-year spell assisting Blackburn Rovers, Preston North End, Bury, Bolton Wanderers, Sheffield United, Southend United, Bury (again), Blackpool, Southend United (again), clocking up over 450 appearances between 1983 and 2000 in League Football before moving into coaching roles with both Scarborough and then RMI as well as assisting the Bolton Wanderers Academy on a part time basis.