The times they are a-changin’ at Spoiler Towers

For nearly two years, it has been my absolute pleasure to bring you football news, utterly scurrilous rumours, the world’s best WAGs and frequent spelling mistakes on this site.

Among other things, I’ve waxed lyrical about Cristiano Ronaldo’s unfaltering vanity, Shola Ameobi’s pseudo-robbery, Jermaine Pennant’s questionable attitude towards fidelity and Joe Kinnear’s utter disregard for the concept of media training. The site has won high praise from The Telegraph and The Guardian, kudos from the BBC and Sky Sports, hatred from talkSPORT motormouth Stan Collymore and a Playboy model, and I was even asked by Sky News for my opinion on Joey Barton’s extra-curricular activities. (My invite back to Sky must have got lost in the post, but good times all the same.)

So it is with great melancholy that I announce that my tenure as Editor of The Spoiler ends today. From next week, I will be extolling the virtues of self improvement, having accepted the position as Deputy Editor of Men’s Health Online. Of course, I’m very excited by this new challenge - and the near guarantee of cultivating washboard abs! - but, understandably, I’m feeling a little John-Terry-post-Champions-League-Final about leaving all this behind.

I owe a huge thank you to the readers who have chosen to lower their productivity by spending time on this site, my fellow football bloggers and the good folks at Grand Parade. Without your continued support, I would have been turning tricks on the virtual street long ago.

I genuinely hope you’ve enjoyed reading it as much as I’ve enjoyed writing it.

Of course, The Spoiler will keep on rockin’ without my daily input, but you haven’t completely got rid of me just yet, as I’ll crop up now and again in an Editor-at-Large capacity. A handsome young devil by the name of Eliot will be stepping into my flip flops and fetid dressing gown for the next few weeks, and unlike Tranmere Rovers under John Barnes, he’s well worth sticking around for. So please do.

Cheers,

Ryan