GARRY Kimble says it is with ‘a heavy heart’ that his tenure as Great Wakering Rovers manager has come to an end.

Kimble and the Isthmian North club parted ways by mutual consent yesterday.

And Kimble leaves Burroughs Park having enjoyed his six-month spell in charge.

“It’s with a heavy heart that I have left the club,” said Kimble.

“I love Wakering and it’s a shame that it has ended in this way, but it was perhaps in the best interests for everyone if we parted ways.

“I wish the club every success in the future and there have been some positive moments during my time in charge, including winning £12,000 in prize money thanks to our FA Cup run.

“The fans were great to me from the moment I took over at the club and I hope they have plenty more to celebrate going forward.”

Kimble was appointed as Wakering boss last July, with Iain O’Connell resigning just a matter of months after leading the club to the Essex Senior League title.

And Kimble, who counts the likes of Charlton Athletic and Dagenham & Redbridge among his former clubs during a stellar playing career, was set the challenge of staving off an immediate relegation by Wakering chairman Dave Patient.

Despite a difficult start to the campaign, Kimble was able to guide Wakering away from the Isthmian North drop zone and he leaves Burroughs Park with the club 17th in the standings.

And Kimble believes he would have kept Wakering in the Isthmian North had he remained in charge until the end of the season.

Kimble, who led Witham Town to two promotions in the space of three seasons during a hugely successful five-year spell in charge of the north Essex club, added: “I think that we would have avoided relegation had I stayed at the club.

“We built a squad that I was happy with and we were on course to achieve our aim, which was to remain in the division.

“But I thought the writing was on the wall after Saturday’s defeat at Felixstowe & Walton United and my time at the club has come to an end.”

Wakering find themselves nine points clear of Dereham Town, who prop up the Isthmian North table.