It is with a heavy heart that I have tonight resigned as manager of Margate Football Club, says Nikki Bull

MARGATE begin the search for a new manager after Nikki Bull resigned from the struggling club tonight.

The Hartsdown Park club are rooted to the foot of the Vanarama National League South table with a playing record of five wins and a draw from their 29 league outings.

Tuesday night’s 1-0 defeat away to East Thurrock United was their 13^th successive defeat and they have gone 17 games without any win in all competitions.

“It is with a heavy heart that I have tonight resigned as manager of Margate Football Club,” said Bull in a statement, which was published on www.margate-fc.co.uk.

“As everybody has been aware the club has experienced severe financial problems over the past six months and I am proud that during this time we have managed to not only keep the club in business but also stabilise it and meet the financial issues head on and resolve them in the correct manner to the point that now the club is an attractive proposition for new investors to purchase the club.

“With the takeover now complete I feel that it is in everyone’s best interests that the new owners bring in a fresh management team to lead the club forward into an exciting new period.

“Despite the constant off-the-field problems that I have encountered and had to endure I have always conducted myself with dignity and always made decisions that put the football club first.

“Results on the pitch have not been good enough but given the resources I have had to work with I am proud of the players’ efforts and commitments over the past few months that have enabled us to remain competitive in the games that we have played.

“I would lastly like to thank all of the supporters that have given me fantastic support during my time as both a player and manager of Margate Football Club.”

Margate have confirmed that Bull’s assistant manager Steve Brown takes the team until a replacement is found.

A club statement said: “Margate Football Club is tonight sad to announce that Nikki Bull has decided to leave the club with immediate effect.

“With new investors likely to arrive at the club in the next few weeks, Nikki felt that this was the best way for the club to move forward.

“The search for a new manager will start immediately with Steve Brown taking the team until a replacement is found.

“Steve was told tonight by Nikki personally and has made it clear to both Nikki and chairman Alistair Bayliss that he has no interest in the position and did not want to be considered for it.

“We all wish Nilkki well for the future and can’t thank him enough for everything he has done for the club over the past three years both on and off the pitch.”

Margate are eight points adrift of safety and they host third-from-bottom side Whitehawk in a real six-pointer at Hartsdown Park on Saturday (15:00).

Meanwhile, former Margate midfielder, Jay Saunders, has signed a new contract to stay in charge of Vanarama National League side Maidstone United until the end of next season.  The club have also confirmed that they will be a full-time outfit from next season.

Visit Margate’s website: www.margate-fc.co.uk