Matt Wyatt is saddened by the fall-out with Nick Davis that has left him in sole charge at Sittingbourne.

Davis claimed he was forced to stand down as joint-manager as Wyatt had committee backing to go it alone.

Wyatt denied engineering Davis’ exit, saying the club sought his views on running with one manager. But Brickies said no decision had been made and asked Davis to consider returning in a player-coach role – an offer he has rejected.

Wyatt said: “It’s a sad day. It’s not easy for me. Nick is angry and thinks I’ve stabbed him in the back. All I did was agree with the committee that we needed to go down the sole manager route.

“If they wanted me, great, and, if not, I wouldn’t have blamed them. If the committee had wanted Nick, or somebody else, I’d have walked away with my head held high. I never said the club had to pick me.”

Brickies secretary John Pitts confirmed Davis will not be returning in a player-coach role.

He said: “The offer is open to Nick but it seems irrevocable damage has been done. Nick feels he has been stabbed in the back. He loves the club but sadly I can’t see him working with Matt again. That’s what he told me.

“No decision had been taken on joint-managers but if we did decide to go with one manager, Nick was never going to be forced out.”