LEON Woodford said it was with a heavy heart he decided to walk away from Southend Manor.

Woodford revealed he quit the job last Wednesday because he was no longer happy in the role, but he has wished the club well for the rest of the season.

He said: “There were a few things I was not pleased about, but I’m not going to go into detail because I don’t think it would be right to do so.

“I’m not a ‘yes man’ and I’m very outspoken, and a few people were not happy with that.

“It’s sad because I had a group of players who were not ready for that standard yet, but they were just about to kick on, and we had a few coming back from injury.

“But it’s the right time for me to move on and I have some other projects coming up, and I wish Manor well for the future.”

Woodford says he now plans to concentrate on setting up soccer schools in the south Essex area.

He was previously a coach at Manor but stepped up to first-team manager in May when Russell Faulkner left after being told he had to reapply for the job.

He made a good start with three wins from their first five matches. But nine league defeats – and three in their last four games – have left now left them well off the pace in the division in 15th place.

Southend Manor’s secretary Peter Dudley said an announcement on situation is due to be made this morning.