Brett Whaley speaks about his departure as manager of Spalding United
Disappointed Brett Whaley admitted the decision by Spalding United to relieve him of his managerial duties this week was 'tough to take.'
The Tulips made the surprise announcement on Monday night that they would be parting company with the former Yaxley and Wisbech Town boss despite enjoying one of their best campaigns for a number of seasons.
Chairman Andrew Killingsworth said it had been a 'difficult decision but one we felt was right considering the challenges we have faced on the pitch since the new year.'
However, Whaley leaves a third-placed Spalding side still strongly in the mix for honours in the Northern Premier League Midlands Division.
And he felt it was disappointing that he wasn't allowed to finish the job which this season had seen Spalding hold the last unbeaten record in the top eight tiers of English football and also reach the final of the Lincolnshire Senior Cup for the first time in more than 30 years.
Whaley said: "We knew our form was in a bit of a dip but we were trying to work hard on that.
"The reality is that, when you're third in the league, in a cup final and have had a good season, then you expect to be given the opportunity to see that through.
"We have been a little bit of victims of our own success because expectations went too high and you can get involved in the moment and not look at the bigger picture.
"We have created a squad of players who are competing with two very big clubs in Halesowen and Stamford who have very settled squads.
"They have good management and good groups of players and have put the hard yards in so to catch them wasn't going to be a five minute fix.
"But, if you look at the distance we were last year from them and where we are now, then we have closed up that gap in a very short period of time.
"If we continued to improve and the group stayed together then I think we would have made up that distance. It is frustrating because it is a decision for now.
"The people who run the football club are there to make decisions and they felt they needed a change but I feel really disappointed and a bit angry about it.
"I'm obviously sad about it as well because I felt that I had earned the right to finish the season off and show what I was capable of.
"It was still a real possibility to win the county cup and get promotion through the play-offs so to have that taken away from me is tough to take."
Whaley took over at the Sir Halley Stewart ground in December of 2021 following the departure of former Peterborough United defender Gabriel Zakuani.
The Tulips finished last season in 10th spot before making a strong start to the current campaign.
They were unbeaten in the league until their first loss of the season in the 2-0 home reversal to Cambridge City on January 7.
A run of four wins, a draw and three defeats have followed that first loss with the Tulips also failing to score in the last three games.
Whaley added: "Our form, particularly at home, hasn't been great recently but there's only been five goals scored in the last six games there.
"The reason for that is because you can't play football on that pitch and there is nothing we can do about it.
"I would never question the brilliant work that the volunteers around the club are doing but it is one of the worst in the league and maybe our side has struggled a little bit because of that.
"It is very difficult to attack on it and, in the last few weeks, sides have come to try and defend against us and get men behind the ball.
"It is very difficult to break them down because the ball doesn't run. It's a council pitch which has two teams playing on it every week.
"I was always told that the lease would be sorted and the changes would be made but it hasn't happened like the lack of a training facility as well.
"To turn the current form around, we did need to be on the training ground more regularly and it is something which has hampered me and another reason that I felt I had earned the right to see it through.
"I am a big believer in working on things out on the training ground and you certainly can't do it on a pitch which you can't play on so it does leave a bit of a bad taste."
Despite his unexpected departure, Whaley is eager to return to management having been given the opportunity by the Tulips to compete at the top end of step four of the non-league pyramid.
He said: "I feel like I have proven myself and I'm capable of managing there.
"In my time at Spalding, we have made massive improvements on the pitch, more so than what is happening off it.
"When I took over, we were looking over our shoulders at relegation which was 14 months ago and that isn't a long time in football to suddenly be looking at a potential promotion and a cup final.
"As much as these situations happen and they do hurt, I want the next challenge and I want to continue to prove myself and hopefully I have done enough to give myself the next opportunity."
Whaley was also heartened by the messages that he had received since news of his departure was broken.
He commented: "I've had some really nice comments from people that I respect.
"There's been messages individually from people who have been around and know the non-league game.
"It doesn't take away the frustration or upset but it picks you up and gives you confidence for the next opportunity because this chapter is now closed."
Assistant manager Bruno Porfirio has also departed the Tulips who are next in action on Saturday when they visit in-form Corby Town.