JOHN Sussex has resigned as Basildon United manager after picking up five points from the opening 10 fixtures of the Isthmian North season.

The Bees suffered a 3-2 defeat to Cambridge City yesterday, leading to Sussex tendering his resignation.

However, chairman David Maxwell and vice-chairman Lee Connor did not originally accept Sussex’s offer to leave his post as they felt he was the right man for the job.

Connor said: “John sent me a text asking to call him. When I did, he offered his resignation but David and I didn’t want him to leave, so we declined his resignation and asked him to think about it.

“He did think about it and told us that he had made his decision.

“David and I did not want John to leave because we felt he was a good fit for the club and he had steadied the ship.

“He was loyal and did well in the cup competitions as well.

“We backed John 100 per cent and that would have remained the case had he changed his mind, but he didn’t.

“We wish John all the best for the future.”