Gary Setchell admitted his sacking as King's Lynn Town manager came as a 'massive surprise'.

The 41-year-old revealed that he had been in new contract talks with the club before Cleeve told him that his services would no longer be required on Tuesday evening.

Less than 24 hours later Ian Culverhouse was appointed as the new Linnets boss and Setchell admitted the situation had left him with a bitter taste in the mouth.

'It was a massive surprise to me – we were in talks over a new contract and when I was called into a meeting I thought we were just going to dot the i's and cross the t's on it,' said Setchell.

'We've only lost three games in 21 – if he had done it after the Weymouth game (6-1 defeat) then I could perhaps understand it a bit more.

'The fact they have appointed someone so soon shows there was something going on behind my back, which is disappointing.

'The chairman said he thought I could get the club to the Conference but that I wouldn't be able to take the club any further. I'm bitterly disappointed.'

Setchell took Lynn to promotion from the United Counties League in 2012 before being promoted as champions from the Northern Premier League Division One South the following season.

However, they have remained in step three of the non league pyramid and Cleeve didn't believe Setchell had the ability to fulfil his Football League dream.

'There's no argument and no fall-out – the chairman is disappointed with how the season has gone,' said Setchell. 'I honestly feel that we were only one or two players away from getting it right.

'The chairman has put a lot of the players on contracts so I must have been doing something right. It has left a bitter taste in what he promised he didn't give me.'

Setchell said he will take a bit of time away from football before deciding on his next job but still feels that he has a lot to offer.

'Wherever I manage next it won't be as hard as the Lynn job,' he said. 'Living in the town and managing the club – it's a lot of pressure.

'I'm going to take a bit of time out, go and watch my lad play, and make sure the next club I go to is the right one for me.'