SCOTT Dundas says he wasn’t surprised to be asked to leave his role as Witton Albion’s manager on Tuesday night.

The former Norton United boss was dismissed, along with his assistant Wayne Brotherton, following a 4-2 defeat at home to Bamber Bridge.

It was a fifth reverse in 10 Division One North matches this term.

“It may have been a shock to some people, but I knew what was coming three or four weeks ago,” he said in a statement issued to the Guardian.

“I felt that whatever I did was never going to be enough for either the board or the supporters, and with all the interference from behind the scenes it’s understandable why so many managers have come and gone.

“The club tries to be run professionally, but with five different managers in the past 13 months that is never going to happen.”

Dundas warned that his replacement will have to rebuild a squad likely to be shorn of most of the players he has signed since replacing Tony Sullivan in the dugout following Witton’s relegation from the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League’s top flight last season.

He added: “My only worry is for the players who I had brought with me to Witton.

“I didn’t want to leave them somewhere they don’t want to be.

“I expect all of them will ask to be released, which should benefit clubs near to where they live.

“It also proves what loyal people they are.”

Dundas leaves after 13 matches at the helm in all competitions, winning six and losing as many.

Albion progressed through two stages of the FA Cup during his brief tenure, collecting close to £5,000 in prize money as a reward for wins against Trafford and Farsley Celtic.

And the 41-year-old vowed to return to non-league when an opportunity arises.

He said: “I’ll be looking to get back into management, but at the moment I’ll enjoy going to watch games and spending time with my family.”

Witton chairman Mark Harris has asked Paul Ogden, the club’s head of recruitment, to pick the team for Saturday’s FA Trophy clash with Ossett Albion.