Boss Nikki Bull confirms he will leave Margate in the summer

Pic: Don Walker

MARGATE boss Nikki Bull has revealed he will leave the club in the summer after being told he would not be in charge next season.

Gate were second from bottom when Terry Brown was relieved of his duties with Bull taking charge of his first game six days before Christmas after being promoted from goalkeeper to manager.

He was named Manager of the Month for January but the club have struggled of late amid off field uncertainty and have fallen to 15th. Benefactor Bob Laslett stepped down as chairman last week and Monday’s defeat to Concord Rangers made it seven losses in a row.

And after the latest defeat, Bull told the Thanet Gazette that he would not be Margate manager next year and that “the events of the past few weeks have made life very difficult”.

“I was offered a contract which I signed to be long-term manager of the club but with the change of ownership the club never came out and announced it which made life difficult for me,” he said.

“I sat down with players and told them I wanted to part of the club moving forward as you do at this time of year, but I’m then told I won’t be here next year and everything’s on hold.

“I don’t see how the club moving forward can afford any of their contracts. The boys have been told that they will be paid until May, but all of this could have been clarified weeks ago.

“The club approached me ages ago about signing a long-term deal. We were looking at players for next year, talking to the current players about being here and the rug seems to have been pulled from under our feet.

“I’ll give it my all for the last five games, get the points to keep us up and it’s job done.”