SACKED Simon Browne headed through the Hamworthy United exit and then launched a broadside at Graham Kemp – his expected successor.

Former Christchurch boss Kemp is the hot favourite to take charge of the Wessex League outfit following his recent departure from Winchester City.

Browne discovered he was facing the axe in the build-up to his final match last night – a highly eventful 2-2 draw with Lymington Town at the County Ground.

Hammers’ outgoing manager, who had spent more than four years in charge, said he had been made aware of his fate after confronting chairman Steve Harvey over speculation that a replacement had been lined up.

In an interview with the Daily Echo, Browne then accused Kemp of sparking rumours he had been offered the position by Hamworthy.

Browne claimed: “Everybody knows he (Kemp) has been offered the job. I am disappointed that the rumours got out. I don’t believe it has come from Steve or Mark (Bartlett, Hammers vice-chairman), that will have come from Graham himself.

“Whether that was done intentionally to cause distress to me, Lee Chudy and John Robson (backroom staff), I don’t know. I’d like to think not. But it is not very professional and seems a little underhand to be talking about taking a job where someone was still in situ.

“I very much doubt we would be in this situation now if he (Kemp) had not been sacked by Winchester.”

Kemp, who politely declined to comment on being linked with the vacancy, strenuously refuted Browne’s claims. He said: “I never spoke to anybody before I left Winchester or before he had left the job at Hamworthy. I categorically didn’t start any rumours.”

Chairman Harvey, who politely declined to discuss the possibility of Kemp being appointed, denied that the former Priory manager’s availability had been a factor in the decision to release Browne.

He cited results and player departures – Hammers have 16 points from 17 Wessex Premier games – and said the issue had been voted for “100 per cent” at a meeting on Monday. Harvey said: “We are looking to progress and join Poole and Wimborne and, as chairman, my feeling is we need to improve, and we weren’t.

“We felt we needed a change. I really like Simon and it was a hard decision and it didn’t work out how we had wanted because he was going to be told after the game but, somewhere down the line, someone told him. We don’t know who but we have a good idea and that prompted the meeting before the game.”

Browne added: “I am grateful to everybody at the club for what they have done. I wish them all the best for the future.”

During Browne’s final match, an eventful night turned fiery when several players from each side were involved in a fracas as the teams came in at half-time. A Lymo player appeared to lift a dustbin above his head during the altercation. No players were sanctioned over the incident.

Browne’s ex-assistant Sean Bartlett is in temporary charge ahead of Saturday's home clash with Winchester (3pm).

  • Dorset’s sole FA Vase survivors Verwood Town host Alresford Town in the second round proper at Potterne Park on Saturday (3pm).
  • In the Wessex Premier, Christchurch visit Brockenhurst. In Wessex One, New Milton travel to Hayling, while Ringwood host Pewsey Vale.