Nick Davis quit Sittingbourne over a budget cut - but the club were considering his future as manager anyway.

Bourne’s committee felt they should have been challenging for a Bostik South play-off place after increasing Davis’ budget by more than 40% last summer.

The early signs were promising as Brickies went seven games unbeaten, topped the table for the first time in more than 20 years and kept six clean sheets in a row.

But a run of seven straight defeats saw them fall into mid-table and left Davis’ position in doubt among committee members.

He arrested the slide with back-to-back wins but lost his final two matches in charge, against VCD and Horsham.

A 20% budget cut - that Davis says was delivered by text - forced the manager’s hand and he decided to walk away.

Secretary John Pitts said: “To be honest, Nick’s position has been discussed a couple of times.

“We gave Nick a budget increase of more than 40% this season because with three teams going up, we felt there was more of a chance of getting in the play-offs.

“We thought we’d break the bank, as far as we’re concerned, and give Nick the money we felt should have got us in the play-offs. Sadly it’s not happened.

“We’re 14th in the table and with the way it’s going, we’re going to finish well in the bottom half of the league.

“We feel that’s not a good enough return for the money we’re paying out.

“The crowds have gone up slightly this season but the amount we take on the gate is basically a fifth of what we need to keep a budget like we have.

“When we said to Nick about the 20% reduction, it’s still 20% more than he had last season. We knew he wasn’t going to accept it.”

What cannot be questioned is Davis’ commitment during his three-year reign.

Pitts said: “I can pay tribute to his dedication to Sittingbourne Football Club.

“He’s been really dedicated in his time here, a pleasure to work with and we thank him for his efforts."

Davis feels he and assistant Tony Cornwell leave Sittingbourne with their heads held high.

He refutes claims they should have been challenging for the play-offs and says he and Cornwell gave up their wages to boost the budget.

He said: “It’s not a decision I’ve made lightly because Sittingbourne’s been a massive part of my life.

"It’s six years and just under 300 games as a player and a manager.

“I’ve shown fantastic loyalty and commitment to the club, crowds are up 25%, we went top for the first time in 23 years and smashed the clean sheet record this season.

“There were a lot pluses after building a side from scratch and I’m proud of what we’ve done.

“Unfortunately the club lacks ambition but Tony and I don’t just want to survive.

“I’ve spoken to managers at lower levels who’ve laughed when I’ve told them our budget.

“Tony and I had fought tooth and nail to get players in.

“We’d rebuilt three times previously and weren’t willing to do it a fourth time and have to let lads go who’ve been good for us.

“I looked them in the eye when I signed them and promised them a figure and I wanted to stick by it.

“It comes down to me to go but the club’s more important than any individual.

“I got told about the budget by text.

“We were never invited to any meeting in all the time we were there.

“It was already a challenging budget and with further restrictions, we couldn’t compete.

“We couldn’t continue, especially with how hard the job already was and we’re not taking a penny ourselves.

“To pay 16 players plus the kitman and the physio on that budget is difficult.”

Sittingbourne appointed Aslan Odev as caretaker manager on Monday night

Read the full story in the Sittingbourne News Extra.