Witham Town have parted company with manager Garry Kimble.

The club have decided to take the move after a run that saw the team win just two of their last 18 games in all competitions.

That has seen them perched just three places and three points above the Ryman League division north drop zone.

It has been a difficult run but Kimble maintained that he was the right man to get the team to safety and was pleased with the fight that the players showed in their 1-1 draw with relegation rivals Heybridge Swifts yesterday.

However, the club have thought otherwise and have moved to relieve Kimble of his duties.

Chairman Mark Nicholls said in a statement: "Witham Town FC and first team manager Garry Kimble have parted company.

"The board felt that the first team had been taken as far as it could under the present management.

"The board would like to thank Garry for all the hard work and effort that he has put in over the years at the club.

"We would like to wish him all the best for the future."

Kimble said it was "a sad day" and added that he had been sacked as he hadn't been prepared to walk away from the position because he felt he could get the club out of their present predicament.

He said: "It's a sad day for myself.

"I was sacked as I wasn't going to walk from it.

"My backroom staff have all gone as well, including my brother (Alan Kimble) and Johnny Ray.

"I've already had lots of messages of support but let them (the club) get on with it now.

"I'll listen to offers for other jobs as I want to bounce back and I feel this experience will make me an even better manager." 

Kimble has left the club after just under five years at the helm, during which he has led them in arguably the most successful period in Witham Town's history.

Taking over with the team trying to get out of the Essex Senior League, Kimble led them to the title in his first year in charge along with winning a trio of cup silverware.

That heralded a return to the Ryman League and having only just missed out on promotion in their first year back, Kimble once again led a move up in his third year as manager.

A second promotion in three years was achieved with a division one north play-off success against Harlow Town that took Witham to their highest ever position in football.

Life in the premier division proved a difficult step, though, and despite Kimble's best efforts, they struggled to compete with far better resourced clubs and were relegated back to division north.

Life back at step four of the footballing pyramid has not been easy either as Kimble lost pretty much his entire squad in the aftermath of their relegation and has struggled to rebuild this year.

That has led to a campaign of battling to get clear of relegation danger and with nine games remaining, the club have decided that another manager is needed to make sure they don't dip down again.