Departing Canterbury City manager Chris Woollcott has revealed how much work he was doing behind-the-scenes at the club after stepping down.

He quit on Sunday, with City on a nine-game winless run after drawing 1-1 at Southern Counties East Premier Division basement boys Tower Hamlet on Saturday.

Woollcott, who was initially joint-boss alongside Josh Hall before taking sole charge, joined City in 2019 with the club in disarray after the whole playing squad had left.

This season, City nearly pulled out of the league - news which even surprised Woollcott when it was announced after the club were advised they would need to wait another three years for fresh planning applications to be submitted in their bid for a ground in Canterbury.

At present, City ground-share with Faversham Town.

City eventually decided to continue for the rest of this season but have been hit by well-documented financial problems.

Woollcott says he oversaw trials in the summer for the under-23s team - led by head coach John Ripley - and oversaw their training schedule to make sure it was in line with the first-team - as well as taking on a role as kitman!

When asked why he had decided to stand down, speaking on Monday afternoon, he replied: “Ultimately, it came down to taking a look at the results that have happened recently.

“Obviously, it’s been quite a frustrating time.

"It’s been frustrating from the get-go, really, especially not having the opportunity to really build something.

“My time there has been rebuild after rebuild. Obviously, I came in alongside Josh with a blank canvas and I enjoyed that part. There seemed like lots of ambition.

“We took over at Christmas, then Covid hit last year.

“We started this season - not amazingly - but okay and felt we had got to a really good place in September. Then the planning permission situation came as much of a shock to me as it did to everyone else.

“It was business as usual on the Saturday and the first communication I got came on the Sunday (the news was announced that day).

“Secretary Richie Moore does some really good things at the club but, overall, the communication wasn’t there.

“I found it hard to work with that.

“I would like to think I did some good stuff like helping set up the link with Canterbury Youth and helping with the running of the under-23s. I even became kitman myself this season!

“I didn’t get a response to my email offering my resignation, which I think was a lack of respect.

“But ultimately, I’m first-team manager and responsible for the results, and the results haven’t been good enough - regardless of the circumstances.”

Woollcott says, following the budget cut, he only opted to stay out of loyalty to keeper Tom Benham, Rob Lawrence and Adam Turton who stayed with City.

They are 15th but Woollcott added: “I do think we have been improving.

“We had Welling Town, which was a bit of a six-pointer, but they went and beat Glebe on the Tuesday before they played us.

“Then, Tower Hamlets beat Erith Town in the cup just before we played them.

“It was not a dreadful performance at Tower Hamlets. We could have won it, they could have won it.

“But I felt it (resigning) was the right thing to do.”

Woollcott’s assistant Sam Wilson will take over alongside player-coach Danny Lawrence for the remainder of 2021.

Woollcott, who wished Wilson and Lawrence luck in their new roles and described them as “outstanding young coaches”, is unsure what comes next in his career at this stage.

“There is nothing in the pipeline,” he explained.

“Obviously, I had invested a lot into Canterbury City. It’s only been two years but it’s been a long two years.

“I’m looking forward to giving some time back to my wife and kids.

"I’m still inexperienced in management terms and even coaching terms.

“I work in a football academy, so I don’t think I will be rusty. We will see what happens.”

City host leaders Chatham this Saturday.