Sittingbourne have announced the departure of manager Darren Blackburn after two years in charge.

Blackburn has been sacked despite leading the Brickies to 10th place in Isthmian South East - their highest finish in nine years.

The popular boss served as assistant manager under Chris Lynch before taking the reins in March 2020.

He’d been weighing up his future, due to the pressures of balancing football with work and family life.

He appeared keen to continue but said this week he needed to sit down with the board for “assurances on a few bits and pieces”.

Sittingbourne, however, have decided to make a change and released a statement announcing his exit.

“Sittingbourne FC confirms that Darren Blackburn has left the club,” they said.

“We would like to thank Darren for all of his hard work and commitment over the last two years since stepping up from the No.2 role - a thanks that we are certain the fans will echo.

“The board will now work diligently to identify the right candidate to take this club forward.

“This work will be done quickly but without undue haste, as we fully appreciate the importance of our decision to appoint a new manager who is the right fit for the club.”

Blackburn said on Twitter he was gutted to be leaving Sittingbourne but respected the board's decision to let him go.

It's the second Kent managerial departure in two days after Tonbridge sacked long-serving boss Steve McKimm on Tuesday night.