PETE Moore has been sacked as manager of Jewson Wessex League strugglers Brockenhurst - and he doesn't care who knows it.

The 46-year-old declined the New Forest club's offer of departure 'by mutual consent', saying: "They relieved me of my duties, so why lie?

"I've never been sacked before in my 18-year managerial career, but better managers than me have had their marching orders - just ask John Robson when he was sacked by Winchester City."

Although Moore had intended to tell Brock he would not continue next season, he was willing to stay put and help his successor settle in.

But that option was taken away from him after Tuesday's 2-0 home defeat by Christchurch when he was told his services were no longer required.

Ironically his sacking comes just as Brock are getting back on an even keel behind the scenes. For much of this season they struggled on without a chairman or secretary following the departures of Dave Stansbridge and Terry Simpson.

But Stansbridge returned to the club's committee a month ago, along with former secretary Paul Christopher, while Brian Small, a 57-year-old ex-player and local builder, has taken over as chairman with a view to: "taking the club forward to a better standard of football."

According to Small, former Poole Town and Bashley boss Moore was not the right man to lead the club onto that higher plain. He said: "Pete's done a lot for the club, but he wasn't enjoying the job any more and was just getting a team out with no real interest in who he got in. We've got players here that some of us had never even heard of. The standard of football in my opinion has been poor and our gates have been poor too. Once you've taken out the cost of referees' expenses and lights we've been losing money every game."

Moore, who was in his second stint as Brock boss, said: "What got me most was being told that they wanted the club to go forward and that they couldn't do it with me at the helm. If circumstances had been different earlier this season, I could have taken the club forward, yet I stayed at a time when they had no secretary, chairman, committee, money, nothing, and now they're starting to turn things round, they've sacked me.

"I'm annoyed that the decision was taken out of my hands because I've worked bloody hard for that club and always managed to get a team out, even though I've had to fight for everything I've ever wanted."

Brock's injury crisis has been so bad that Moore - a grandad of three - has shaken off the cobwebs and played himself this season. He scored against Moneyfields and last Saturday stood in as emergency goalkeeper at Totton.

Rumours in the Forest are that former Lymington & New Milton player-boss Graham Kemp is being lined up for the job, but Small said: "It's an open book. I wouldn't rule anyone out. Dave Lane, the physio, and myself will be contacting the players about Saturday's game at Newbury."