Nikki Bull believes his torrid initiation to football management at Margate has left him ready to face anything.

The 34-year-old former keeper took the reins at Hartsdown following Terry Brown's sacking in December and experienced a roller-coaster ride which culminated in the Gate avoiding relegation despite being beaten at Bath on the final day of the season.

Bull said some of things that have gone on behind the scenes since his appointment defy belief but he reckons the situation also means nothing now will be able to faze him.

Bull, who signed a two-year deal to stay at Hartsdown in April, added:"It has been one of the strangest periods of my career and some of the things that have gone on would leave you speechless but I don't regret a thing.

"I think in some ways, going through what I have so early in my managerial career has given me a good platform.

"I can't see whatever I do in the future will be as hard, whether I'm a football manager for six months or six years, I can't see me going through anything like this again."

Bull enjoyed a dream start to managerial life at Hartsdown losing just one of his first 11 games - a run which carried Gate to the brink of the Vanarama National League South play-off positions.

However, with speculation about the future of owner/chairman Bob Laslett rife Margate's form started to fall away, to the extent they lost 11 of their last 12 matches.

Laslett stepped down in March to be succeeded by John Webb, and chief executive Chris Pope was then appointed vice-chairman, only to quit the club weeks later.

Throw in the sale of leading scorer Freddie Ladapo to Premier League Crystal Palace, and rumours of dressing room confrontations and it's easy to see why Bull says the support of family, friends and former colleagues like ex-boss Terry Brown and his assistant Stuart Cash were vital.

Bull explained: "When we were on that good run the world and his mum were getting in touch, then once we started losing the phone went quiet, but people like Terry and Cashy were brilliant and I won't forget that."