By Andrew Gidley

Whitstable Town Football Club chairman Tony Rouse has stepped down at Belmont after four years in the post.

Mr Rouse, who is 62, announced his decision at the club’s end of season presentation night on Sunday, but was quick to deny connection with former manager Marc Seager’s shock departure last week.

He said: "I have had a great run, but feel the club needs a fresh look and to move on. My decision had nothing to do with Marc going, because I made up mind sometime ago.

"I feel it’s time to devote more time to family and my business commitments, but I will still be involved on the committee. Joe Brownett is taking over as interim chairman, but he is looking for someone who can take the club forward."

Looking back, Mr Rouse (pictured) said: "I have had an absolutely fantastic experience and been very lucky to be chairman at such an exciting time and working with Marc who was a forthright and a very good manager.

"We won the Kent League and Kent Senior Trophy in the same season, and reached our first Kent Senior Cup final for the first time a few weeks ago."

Seager, whose appointment as player-manager replacing Matt Toms, was one of the club’s first decisions under Mr Rouse, said: "I will be forever grateful to Tony for giving me the job in the first place. He had belief and faith in me and always let me get on with the football.

"We never had an argument, only the odd difference of opinion, and always had a mutual respect for each other. Tony was the perfect chairman, his heart and soul is in the club, he has got drive and backed me to the hilt."

Seager said an emotional farewell to supporters at the end of season awards presentation at Belmont on Sunday night.

He received the Tony Pattenden Award for services to the club. Gary Sayer was named players’, supporters’ and manager’s player of the year, sharing the latter award with goalkeeper Kevin Fewell.

Joe and Josie Brownett won the clubman of the year award.

Seager added: "It was a very emotional night, and probably the biggest turnout we have ever had."

Meanwhile the club began interviews for Seager’s successor earlier this week.