MARTIN Beck has no regrets about leaving Alresford Town.

Truth be told, it was a relief to get out.

Ultimately it was the departure of chairman Trevor Ingram nearly two weeks ago that spelt the end of Beck’s time in charge, writes Wendy Gee.

But, in his heart of hearts, the former Eastleigh wide man and Winchester City assistant boss had long felt he was on a hiding to nothing at Arlebury Park.

“Trevor resigned ten days ago because he was getting no help and, with the Otterbourne people coming in, it made it easy for me to get out of there. I wasn’t enjoying it one bit,” he confessed.

“I had no help, no physio, I had to wash the kit myself and I was getting let down by players.

“On a Thursday I’d have 16 or 17 available, but come the Saturday it would be 11 or 12 and some wouldn’t even tell me they weren’t coming, they just wouldn’t turn up.

“Andy Darnton came in to do the coaching and I learned a lot from him, but often we’d only have six or seven at training. We were going out of our way to do it all and not getting anything back.

“When you’re not enjoying it, it rubs off on the players.”

The upshot was that Alresford - Wessex Premier runners-up in 2012/13 and 2013/14 - are staring Division One football in the face after ending a turbulent season just one off the foot of the table.

But though 35-year-old Beck often felt like quitting, he toughed the job out.

“I could easily have gone at Christmas. I knew I was on a hiding to nothing, but it would have been too easy to jump ship,” he said.

“It got terrible in the end - but at least I’ve still got my hairline intact!”

Far from being put off management, Beck would like to get involved again - preferably with Darnton - but not immediately.

“I’ve got a cruciate operation in three weeks’ time which will keep me out of action for two months,” he said. “I couldn’t have done pre-season and that’s something else that was in the back of my mind at Alresford.

“It’s a shame it’s ended like this but, without wanting to sound bitter, I’m happy to be away from it all.”

*More on this story and the local non-League scene in this weekend's Pink.