ANGRY Phil Simkin pulled no punches after claiming he was sacked as Hamworthy United manager – despite chairman Bruce Scammell insisting the outgoing boss resigned from the role.

Hammers chief Scammell said “the club point of view is he resigned and we’ve accepted” but, when contacted by the Echo, Simkin was adamant that he had been dismissed following an argument with Scammell on Friday.

He claims club captain Ollie Cherrett contacted Scammell on Wednesday and told him that Simkin had “lost the dressing room”, and that this led to a heated conversation between chairman and manager on Friday evening. The discussion appears to have centred around Cherrett’s future at the club after Simkin told the central defender his services were no longer required.

Simkin says he demanded an apology from Scammell, which was not forthcoming, and Saturday’s 1-0 Wessex Premier Division defeat at Totton and Eling proved to be his final match in charge.

The outgoing County Ground manager said: “I spoke to the club secretary and I said I’ve had a phone call from the chairman and I said I couldn’t go on unless he apologised, and then they said they accepted my resignation.

“I would have been happy to have carried on if he had apologised to me, but he didn’t and said he’d accept my resignation.

“He refused to apologise and, as far as I’m concerned, I’ve been sacked.”

Simkin added: “I’ve worked miracles for this football club for more than five years and I’m not being treated like that.

“M is for manager, not magician. I enjoyed my time at Hamworthy and was very successful on peanuts. I know I’m a good manager and I’d like to get back into the game as soon as possible.

“I’ve been in football for 40 years and I’ve been sacked by bigger clubs than this.”

Defender Cherrett, who intends to resume training with the Hammers squad tomorrow night, says he discovered he wasn’t playing in Saturday’s match when he read team news in Friday’s Echo. The centre-half said: “I never asked for Phil to be sacked. While he was manager he had my full support.

“I wish him all the best for the future.”

Simkin led Hammers through a successful period, winning the Dorset Senior Cup in 2006 and, against the odds, reaching last season’s Wessex League Cup final.

However, this season has not been as successful, with Hammers sitting second bottom of the table after struggling to replace key players including Martin Peters and Nathan Walker.

Injuries have also had an effect, with star striker Warren Byerley unable to play a part.

Scammell revealed that the club would be advertising the vacant role and former Poppies boss James Wood hinted that the job could be of interest to him.

He told the Echo: “I’m getting a little bit of itchy feet and would like to get back into it.”

Former Cherries youth coach Brian O’Donnell admitted he may also be willing to throw his hat into the ring.