SACKED, resigned, parted company – call it what you like – I just think it’s a shame that Phil Simkin’s Hamworthy United reign has ended in such an unhappy manner.

Since joining the Echo, I’ve spent plenty of time chatting to Simkin – and also Hammers chairman Bruce Scammell – and both have been nothing short of excellent to deal with.

I even ventured to the Isle of Wight with the club for a match at Brading Town and found them to be a cracking bunch, full of fun as well as footballing talent.

Under Simkin’s guidance, Hammers won the Dorset Senior Cup, claimed plenty of FA prize money and reached the final of last season’s Wessex League Cup.

But the achievements of the past few years seem to have been overshadowed by the events of recent days.

First, an under-strength Hammers side were beaten 4-0 at Christchurch in a performance which woefully lacked the qualities Simkin’s side have become renowned for.

Then, it seems, the trouble began. Arguments, internal power struggles and, eventually, Simkin’s departure from the club.

While the two parties beg to differ on how the long-serving boss eventually exited the County Ground, one thing is clear and that is that all was certainly not well this term.

Without influential captain Nathan Walker, Hammers no longer seemed as formidable in defence or at the set piece. Goalkeeper Martin Peters, another experienced and dependable performer, was also a big miss.

It would be unfair to have expected Simkin to keep conjuring up the same sort of results without two of his better players – as well as injured star striker Warren Byerley.

Goals have been in short supply – just five in eight league matches – and this meant that even when Simkin’s men were in dominant form against the likes of Wimborne+Town">Wimborne Town and Bournemouth Poppies when I saw them, they could not finish the job.

People will be quick to point the finger at the league table and say that a manager whose team is second bottom with just four points deserves to be in the firing line.

But as is always the case with statistics, they do not tell the whole story.