Departing boss Joe Dowley has admitted the experience of being in charge of Sittingbourne has frightened him off management in the short-term.

The Brickies finished third from bottom in Ryman League Division 1 South after a 4-0 final day defeat at Walton & Hersham on Saturday.

It meant they finished two points clear of bottom side Whyteleafe, and ahead of Burgess Hill Town on goal difference after the latter’s surprise 1-0 win at Dulwich.

Dowley (pictured), a cost recovery manager in a City of London law firm, is not ruling out a return to management in the future.

He said: "The experience has frightened me off for the moment, but I would love to do it again, and would probably try and do things differently.

"I would certainly look to bring in an experienced right-hand man, like Steve Nolan, who has been coaching with me.

"I have known the chairman (Andy Spice) since I was 13, and appreciated the chance he gave me. It’s a good club, with a lot of people working hard and putting a lot of effort in.

"I agreed with Andy a few weeks ago that I would finish at the end of the season. It hasn’t worked out the way I had hoped."

Meanwhile, chairman Andy Spice could name the club’s new boss later this week. The club have not advertised the post yet, but are talking to several interested candidates.

Mr Spice said: "We haven’t offered the job to anyone at the moment. Negotiations are going on, and we are quite a way forward, and hopefully we could finalise things in the next few days, but I can’t say when at the moment."