HARRY Wheeler admits he was ‘disappointed’ not to be able to fulfil his long-term objectives at Billericay Town.

The former manager is understood to have been sacked via text message by owner Glenn Tamplin shortly before the conclusion of the 2-0 reverse against Chippenham Town on August 25 - despite not losing any of his previous 19 matches.

Wheeler was unveiled as the new boss of National League side Maidstone United yesterday.

Tamplin has been widely criticised for the decision to dismiss Wheeler, with Tristan Lewis and Craig Lewis following him out of the club.

And while Wheeler wouldn’t go into the specifics of his dismissal, he said he never wanted to leave and admitted there was a point where a return was possible.

“I was disappointed with it,” said Wheeler, who guided Town to three trophies last season. “It was not something short-term for me and I wanted it to be long-term. You could see that in the recruitment over the summer.

“There was a chance I would go back but both parties couldn’t work out an agreement. But I love the players and could have gone back.”

Wheeler has received almost unanimous support from the Billericay fans since his departure. And he says he has a great amount of affection for the Town faithful.

“I had such great support and the fans have always been brilliant with me,” he said. “I wanted to leave it in the best way and there is a team capable of great things there. Like I said in my statement, they are the treble winning fans. They were a huge part of what the team achieved last season.

“I have been humbled by it and that club will always have a place with me.”

And he added while the business relationship with Tamplin broke down, the personal one had not.

“There is a personal relationship and a business relationship,” he said. “I have a lot of respect for what he has built and he is passionate for the club.

“I keep my work and social life separate and we are not in business anymore so if we were to see each other it would be amicable.”