Richard Brady insisted it was a hard decision to leave Sittingbourne and join big-spending Ryman League, Premier Division side Leatherhead.

Despite only taking over from Gary Abbott this summer, Brady – who assisted Abbott before taking charge at Bourne Park with Jamie Coyle as his No.2 – said the club has made a big impression on him.

He said: "I’ve enjoyed my four years at Sittingbourne. Andy Spice has always been a brilliant chairman. He’s supported everything the manager’s wanted to do and pretty much left the manager to get on with it.

"Despite what people might think, it was a decision we deliberated over for a few days. It was something we had to think about because we enjoyed what we did at Sittingbourne.

"The chairman and I thought maybe there would be a time a bit later when something like this might happen but you don’t decide when people come in for you.

"You think to yourself when is the next opportunity to manage at a higher level going to come around and it was a hard choice for us because we want to move onward and upward."

Brady and Coyle took charge for the final time in Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with Walton Casuals at Bourne Park.

He said: "That's why I was there – I didn’t have to be but I didn’t just want to say ‘see ya’ and leave them in it.

"I owed it to the chairman and players and I was a bit emotional because it’s where I started off on the coaching ladder.

"I’ll go back there when I can and keep an eye on how they’re doing and I’m not just saying that."