I wanted more time at Posh...

NOT for one minute did I or anyone at Peterborough United – except one man – think I would have lost my job at 5pm last Saturday.

We’d just drawn with Charlton. We were sitting in the play-offs, feeling really good about ensuring we were in the promotion race and excitedly looking at the fixtures ahead.

But within ten minutes that is exactly what happened, as chairman Darragh MacAnthony told me he wanted to go in a different direction. The whole thing was over in a matter of seconds.

That’s Darragh’s prerogative and, as I said in my statement, I have no axe to grind. I will always be grateful for the chance to manage my adopted home city.

Nevertheless, I felt we deserved more time. A new squad had to be put together last summer as nearly all the best playing talent was sold.

Jack Marriott, Gwion Edwards, Andrew Hughes, Leo Da Silva Lopes and skipper Jack Baldwin all left. So did many others.

I can understand why that has to be the case, especially when Barry Fry puts almost £7.5m in the club coffers! And to be fair, Darragh told me to expect departures when I joined Posh, so I knew what was happening.

Disaster

But nearly everyone I met last summer said the season would be a disaster. Too many good players sold. Too many new arrivals. And these were people who know football.

Despite that, we won five out of five in August and Peterborough remain in contention for promotion today.

Darren Ferguson has taken over a superb squad of players. Their commitment to me never wavered and the more they get to know and understand each other, the better they will get. I just know they will make the play-offs and they will fear no one.

I was so disappointed when the chairman told me it was time up. I certainly had thoughts – and still do – that he was wrong to do so but I respect fully he has the right to make big decisions. It is, after all, his club.

Not one player from the first-team squad did not get in touch personally and that means so much to me and my assistant Paul Raynor.

It goes without saying I wish Peterborough United and in particular Darren Ferguson every success. I have many friends at London Road and in my time there I made many new ones who will now be lifetime friends.

Good luck to every team fighting for different reasons. Points make prizes and sadly this season I won’t get the chance to be in the hat.

Time to visit a few clubs in Europe to further my education and have a little bit of a holiday like the Mrs has ordered!