Steve Whitton has been forced to quit the job he always vowed he would never walk away from.
After weeks of speculation and a poor sequence of results, the axe finally fell in a hastily-arranged board meeting to end his role as relegation threatened Colchester United's manager after three-and-a-half season's at the helm.
Steve Whitton
Mutual consent was the reason given in the club's official statement, but in an exclusive interview with the Evening Gazette, Whitton, 42, said angrily: "I think everyone knows by now that I would never have walked away from it.
"I knew exactly what was going to happen when the phone went asking me to attend the meeting.
"But there were 18 games left for us to turn things around and I was prepared to fight it out and take the stick for the players.
"Sadly that option has now been taken away from me. I've just experienced my first sack and I'm out of a job for the first time in my life.
"I'd gone through the ranks at Colchester as a player, player coach and manager, but the moment you become the manager you know there is nowhere to go if things don't work out.
"When I was asked to go I thanked the chairman and the board for giving me the chance to manage the club.
"It was a great experience for me, but I now need a couple of days to clear my head and start thinking about the future.
"I wish George (Geraint Williams) all the best in his role as caretaker and I hope they give him the chance to have the job permanently.
Published Thursday, January 30, 2003
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