KEITH Wilson admitted he is unlikely to return to management after he was sacked by Great Wakering Rovers with 10 matches of the season remaining.

Wakering are 12 points from safety at the bottom of the Ryman North after a poor run of results that has seen Wilson pick up just 10 points from a possible 57 since taking over from Gary Ansell at the end of October.

And the club’s committee voted to relieve Wilson of the post late on Monday evening, citing ‘it was not a decision taken lightly’ - with former manager Iain O’Connell drafted in to replace him.

But Wilson said he was ‘gutted’ at the decision and felt the club went back on their word after a meeting he had with chairman John Galley last week.

“I had a meeting with the chairman last week and he asked me to prove him wrong and show I was the right man. I have had one game since then (Saturday’s 3-1 defeat at Cheshunt) and I knew something was up as only the secretary spoke to me.

“It has left a sad taste and I think this has been lined up for a while, if I am honest. I was led to believe I was given until the end of the season.

“Initially I was angry and I am gutted but I want to thank a lot of people at the club, all the people behind the scenes and of course the players.

“I am going to miss them and doing this but I can’t take the politics of it. I am upset by it.

“I have let myself down in terms of the result. But I was given one game when I was told I had longer.”

While results have been poor, recent performances have demonstrated a vast improvement against a number of the division’s top teams.

But Wilson wished his successor all the best, knowing O’Connell well as he was his captain at the club in the past.

“Results have not been good enough and I know that but in the last five games we have got a settled squad and have played four of the top five and the team eighth who have won five of their last six games.

“But I wish OC all the best and I hope they get out of it.”

A club statement read: “It was not a decision taken lightly with a must-win crunch game against Soham Town Rangers on Saturday.

“However, we felt the need to make a bold decision due to a run of results that has seen us record just two points from 30, drop to the bottom of the table and see the gap increase between us and second from bottom Wroxham.

“The committee would like to thank Keith Wilson for his hard work and effort in what has been a very difficult time and wish him all the best for the future.

“We wanted to move quickly to bring in a replacement and despite a small shortlist being drawn up, we felt one person stood out. We contacted Iain O’Connell immediately and he thankfully accepted.

“While we agree that Iain has an extremely hard task to save the club from relegation, our decision was also based on who we felt could lead the charge for promotion from the Essex Senior League, should we be relegated this season.”