MICK Tuohy says he was "bitterly disappointed" to be axed as Worcester City's first team coach.

Tuohy said manager John Barton's decision to relieve him of his duties after more than four years in the post came as a surprise.

But he's beginning to come to terms with his departure and says it won't compromise his affection for a club he served as player, coach and briefly caretaker manager.

Tuohy said: "As you would expect I am bitterly disappointed but I have been here before.

"It was a surprise to me and things happened very quickly. John and I go back over 30 years and it has been a difficult decision for him.

"But he has made the decision on behalf of Worcester City and good luck to him and everybody else."

The 47-year-old, who scored 84 goals in 203 appearances for the club in the early 1980s, was in his second spell as coach at St George's Lane, having been first appointed by George Rooney in 1998.

He had a short stint as joint caretaker boss with Graham Selby between Rooney's departure and the arrival of Graham Allner, who then got rid of Tuohy in a backroom reshuffle in 1999 before Barton brought him back on his appointment as manager a few months later.

Tuohy added: "Worcester City has been a big part of my life on and off for nearly 25 years. It has been a pleasure and privilege to have played, coached and briefly managed one of non-league's biggest clubs.

"Although it has been a shock to the system, I want to thank all the people I have been involved with at the club - I have made a lot of close friends through my connections with Worcester City.

"I just hope everybody involved with the club gets the success on and off the field that they richly deserve."

Tuohy said it was too early to decide when he would get back into football again. "I am still recovering from not being involved to think about the next stage.

"But I am going to the United States on holiday next week and it has come about at the right time. When I get back I will review the situation then."

City's youth team lost 1-0 at home to Alvechurch in the Midland Floodlit Youth League last night.

The Academy side's home PASE League game with Northwich Victoria today has been postponed due to a frozen pitch.