PLAYER-assistant manager Gary Hackett has left the club along with Cross, who appointed him in the close season.

The former Aberdeen winger was persuaded to turn down the chance to take the manager's hotseat at Midland Combination Premier neighbours Alvechurch but has been left in the cold after just a third of the season.

"You don't have to be a genius to work out what happened," Hackett told the Advertiser.

"I think Rod Laight has tried to be as diplomatic as he can be but I wasn't consulted about the decision at all and found out when Nicky Cross told me later on Monday.

"I suppose you could say it happened that way because Nick had appointed me.

"I knew he was meeting the chairman on Monday and we all knew the situation after Saturday's game.

"I said to Nicky before the game we had a chance of losing our job if we lost and unfortunately it didn't work out.

"But I will say when I went to the club there were hardly any players signed and we had to act fast and started the season unprepared.

"I'm going to take a couple of days off and get my head sorted.

"I won't lose my enthusiasm for the game and I think these things make you mentally stronger.

"I've got confidence in my abilities and hope I have options to return to the game."