Danny Lye says leaving Ashford United wasn’t a sudden decision.

The 36-year-old player-manager left the club by “mutual consent” last week but says he resigned and was not sacked.

Lye led United to the Southern Counties East League, Premier Division title and promotion back to the Isthmian League in April for the first time in seven seasons, having taken over almost two years to the day, when Paul Chambers was sacked.

The parting of the ways for Lye came just two games into the new season and hours after the 5-0 Bostik South defeat at South Park last Tuesday (August 15), when United had two players sent off but Lye says that wasn’t a factor in his departure either.

He said: “My thoughts about things had been ongoing through pre-season and into the first week.

“People may say it was sudden but it wasn’t a rash decision on my part because we lost 5-0. - I was thinking of leaving four days before the start of the season.

“Pre-season preparations started a long time ago and there were certain things I requested that hadn’t happened in that time and that bugs me a little bit and if I am not enjoying something I will walk away.

“I did it as a player and I think in management you should have the same approach, if you are not enjoying something that is a hobby and meant to be fun."

Four players who left United following Lye's decision to quit have joined new clubs,

Assistant manager and club record goalscorer Shaun Welford has joined Whitstable and scored on his debut at the weekend, Adrian Stone and Jason Goodchild have moved to Glebe, while Rory Hill has signed for Sevenoaks Town.

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