BASILDON United will appoint a new manager early next week, according to interim boss Lee Connor.

The rein of joint-managers Connor and Michael Walther came to an end on Sunday, 24 hours after the Bees suffered a late defeat to Maldon & Tiptree.

Walther parted company with the newly-promoted Isthmian North side after just four matches with the club, but Connor insisted the former Barkingside manager’s departure was not due to results on the pitch.

Connor, who left his role as chairman of Basildon in order to join Walther in the dugout, said: “I can’t take anything away from Mike.

“We spoke with him and it was nothing to do with the results.

“I think that we have been unlucky not to win or at least get something from some of the games and it’s not like any of the teams we have played gave us a hiding.

“We didn’t get the rub of the green and were losing by the odd goal.

“The club parted company with Mike because I decided that I would be stepping aside as joint-manager.

“I told David Maxwell, who is the chairman, and he said that it was my decision to bring Mike to the club as joint-manager to help me out.

“Because of that, David decided he wanted to bring in his own management team.

“There are no hard feelings between Mike and I.

“I wish him all the best in his new role as assistant manager of FC Romania, but I decided I wanted to step down because I also have my own business to focus on and my family to look after.

“David has someone in mind that he wants to bring in and we’re hoping to have the new manager in place on Monday.”

Although he has stepped down as joint-manager, Connor will still be in charge when Basildon make the short trip to Grays Athletic tomorrow.

Just two points separate the two sides, with Grays sixth and the Bees seventh in the Isthmian North standings.

Jamie Stuart’s Grays have been racing up the league table in recent weeks thanks to a string of fine results, but their impressive run came to an end after suffering consecutive defeats to Heybridge Swifts and Barking.

Basildon, meanwhile, last tasted victory more than two months ago.

But Connor has set his sights on returning to winning ways at Parkside this weekend.

“Grays are a good side and they went on a good run before losing the last two games,” added Connor, who will return to boardroom role once a new manager is appointed.

“But we will be going there with confidence because we feel as though we have been unlucky in recent weeks despite playing well.

“Hopefully we will be able to pick up our first win in 12 games.”

While Fahad Nyanja has left the club in favour of a return to Bowers & Pitsea, Basildon will be boosted by the returning Joe Turpin, Dan Okah and George Whitby tomorrow.