Aslan Odev has resigned as Sittingbourne manager after a year in charge.

Odev succeeded Nick Davis last January, initially as caretaker boss, before securing the job full-time.

The Brickies hit second place in a flying start to the Bostik South East campaign but Odev leaves with the side 16th after seven defeats in eight games.

He said: "It isn't something that happened overnight, it's something that both me and the chairman (Maurice Dunk) have spoken about.

"We've been very supportive to each other and both want Sittingbourne to succeed.

"Unfortunately things have happened, maybe things out of our control, and results have gone a different way.

"It wasn't solely my decision. It was the club and me having a chat and coming to a mutual understanding."

Odev was just 26 when he took the job, making him the youngest manager in the league.

He said: "I'm very, very grateful for the opportunity - it's not something I'm naive to.

"I know as a young manager to get an opportunity like that at a step four club, especially one with a 130-year history or whatever it may be, things like that don't happen too often.

"I'm very grateful and that's one of the reasons I made sure I worked as hard as I could and put everything in.

"Myself and the chairman left things on a good note and I'm very grateful to the fans and the board and especially the players who gave everything all the way to the last whistle.

"I've learnt so much in my time as Sittingbourne manager.

"I can take that into my next job and I can be even better and even stronger.

"It's the little things you learn in the dressing room as a manager that you can't learn anywhere else, no matter what coaching course you're on.

"When you're experiencing it, that's when you really learn, and I can walk away with my head held high.

"I'm waiting by the phone for my next challenge."

Things appeared to be looking up for Sittingbourne when Odev brought Kane Rowland back to the club on loan but they are now looking for a new manager.