PRIDE IS STILL IN TACT AS SHAUN DEPARTS
GUTTED Shaun Saunders says he leaves Haywards Heath Town with his head high after being stunned by his sacking with the club sitting pretty inside the play-off positions.
The Blues have since appointed South Park boss Martin Dynan as their new manager.
Heath axed Saunders on Monday despite losing only one of their last ten Isthmian League South East matches – a run which had left them three points behind second place.
Saunders had taken the club from the Southern Combination League Division One to the cusp of Step 4 promotion over a six-year spell.
But Haywards Heath chairman Steven Isherwood says the “incredibly difficult” decision was made to achieve more consistency in the remaining months of the season.
“We have an enormous amount of respect for Shaun and all the work he has put in this season and for the past six years,” he said. “The club are in with a good chance of promotion this season and the decision has been made as we strive for consistency in the run-in.”
Saunders believed the club would have achieved their promotion goal under him.
“I’m shocked and disappointed, and at its timing,” he told The NLP. “We have been in the top six all season, have lost one in ten and a win away from going second.
“My record at the club speaks for itself. I took it from Step 6 and turned it into a top six Isthmian League side and put six trophies on the table, so I go with my head held high.
“Football is brutal, I’ve been around long enough to know that, but the way this was handled was shocking.
“I’m very proud of the team I have built and have no doubt in my mind we would be promoted. I wish the players all the best and thank the committee for the support given to me over the years.”