WITNEY Town manager Andy Lyne has been dramatically sacked - just two weeks after announcing he would be resigning at the end of the season.

Lyne, 46, was given the news in a hand-delivered letter yesterday following Witney's 2-1 defeat by Chelmsford the previous night - their ninth Dr Martens League Eastern Division game without a win.

Witney's boss said: "It doesn't list the results as the reason for the dismissal. It lists a number of disciplinary issues that the club have not been happy about on my part."

It appears that Lyne has taken the blame for the £200 FA fine for the illegal approach for Oxford City wing back Terry Morrisey, and the leaked FAX to the Oxford Mail which revealed chairman Brian Constable had threatened to cancel players' contracts as a cost-cutting measure. Lyne, who was in his second spell with Witney, said: "Six and a half years of my life has gone into that football club and they didn't even have the decency and courage to tell me to my face.

"To receive a letter through my letter box is not surprising, but disappointing.

"I love that football club. There is a great sense of camaraderie between the players and the supporters which is second to none at any club, but football is all about ambition and that is the trouble with the club."

Coach Gary Ackling, 39, has also been dismissed - the same fate he suffered when he was manager in a previous spell at Witney.

"I see it as being kicked in the guts and it is the second time it has happened there," he said.

Witney were holding a press conference at the ground today when Chard Town manager Gerry Pearson and former Yeovil striker Andy Bell were expected to be named as the new management team.

Story date: Thursday 23 March

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