WIVENHOE Town boss Mo Osman insists his decision to quit was not a knee-jerk reaction to Friday’s 9-0 thumping against Stanway Rovers.

Osman, who has been in charge since September 2009, stepped down following a one-sided Thurlow Nunn League derby at the GMP Plant Hire Stadium.

He will continue to serve as chairman but feels the time is right to resign as manager.

And he says the decision is one he has been mulling over for months.

Osman said: “It certainly wasn’t a knee-jerk reaction on my part, because of Friday’s result. Credit to Stanway. With my very best side available, they still would have beaten us, although the result was pretty much the worst-case scenario.

“It’s something I’ve been considering for a while and the derby result helped make my mind up once and for all.

“After that, I knew enough was enough. The time was right and I’ve given myself long enough to try and turn things round.

“I told the players afterwards that it was my final match and that I wouldn’t be changing my mind and that I was doing it for myself, the club and the rest of the committee.

“My decision would have been the same if we’d lost 2-0 or 3-0.

“I suppose I wanted to see something that gave me belief I could still turn things round and when that didn’t happen, I knew my time was up. I’m ready to go.”

Wivenhoe have shipped 16 goals in three games and they dropped to the bottom of the table on Friday as previous basement boys Fakenham Town won 1-0 at Gorleston.

Coaches Ian Smith and Jason Savage are set to take the side for Wednesday’s League Cup tie at home to Holland FC.