DAVE Busst has been sacked as Evesham United manager following a committee meeting on Monday night, writes Mervyn Collins.

The former Coventry City central defender's contract was terminated after almost 2 years at the helm at Common Road. Busst's assistant Paul West has been given charge of team affairs until the end of the season.

Chairman Jim Cockerton said: "It was a unanimous decision. I was aware of the feelings of the majority of the committee members about the club's current predicament.

"I rang David on Tuesday to tell him the decision. He knows the reasons and it's purely down to results.

"He was good for the club and went about his job in a very professional manner. "It was an amicable parting and I wish him well in the future."

The departing manager however, admitted that Tuesday's phone call was unexpected.

"I knew that there was a meeting on Monday but I wasn't aware that my position at the club was under discussion.

"If they think they can do better without me then that's their decision and I accept it."

Busst offered to resign last Octo-ber following the FA Trophy defeat at home to Solihull but the chairman persuaded him to carry on.

"The committee backed me at that time and we wanted to give him every chance to keep the club in the Premier Division," Cockerton added.

Pleasure

"He brought us a lot of pleasure. The victory over Bromsgrove last May was a memorable day for everyone involved and we just wanted him to carry on the good work. However, recent results meant that something had to be done.

"There was an air of resignation about the place last Saturday. The club was dead, gates are dropping and we are not winning matches.

"Paul (West) will have his own ideas and he has been given a free rein."

West took temporary charge when Phil Mullen left the club in October 2003 prior to Busst's appointment.

United climbed the Division One West table steadily before making a concerted push for automatic promotion last term that ultimately ended in a Play-off Final triumph in front of almost 1,000 spectators at Common Road.

"I have taken Evesham where they have never been before," Busst declared. "I know that I have given everything for the club and I believe that I could have kept them in the division.

"I've worked my guts off with the budget - they are still in a good position to stay up and I wish them all the best."

Busst was in charge for 115 matches, winning 46, drawing 26 and losing 43.

The Robins, however, have won just five of 35 league and cup games this season, crashing out of four cup competitions at the first hurdle and finding themselves fourth bottom of the Southern League Premier Division just two points ahead of bottom of the table Aylesbury.

It's a far cry from last season when the Robins celebrated promotion after a memorable winter - one that will always stand out in Busst's memory.

"Winning promotion was obviously a great achievement and I have no regrets about what has happened," Busst concluded.

The chairman, meanwhile, ended on an optimistic note. "We remain positive and any decisions that we make will be in the best interests of the club."