King's Lynn Town owner Stephen Cleeve felt he 'needed to shake things up' after appointing Ian Culverhouse as manager.

The decision to sack Gary Setchell came as a surprise to many Lynn fans after the club were unbeaten in their last eight games.

However, Cleeve didn't feel Setchell was the right man to take the club forward in the long term and wanted to give Culverhouse the rest of this season in the hope he can hit the ground running in the next campaign.

'Ian has now got the time to assess the squad and get it how he wants,' said Cleeve after handing Culverhouse a two-and-a-half year deal at The Walks. 'He's got to get his team moulded to how he wants it – we can't waste any time next season.

'We are in a situation where we won't go down and it would take an extraordinary run for us to get into the play-offs.

'It's a good time to get the team right for next season. Ian is a very bright man and someone I think is the right man to take the club forward.'

Cleeve feels he is getting the foundations in place for the Linnets to push for promotion next season and has made no secret of his Football League ambitions for the club.

'Bringing Ian in makes complete sense,' he added. I think the appointment is good for us and it's good for the town. The fans are going to love it. Sometimes you have to shake things up a bit to get to where you want to get to.'

Cleeve admitted that dispensing with Setchell's services was one of the hardest decisions he's ever had to make.

The Lynn owner insists there had been no breakdown in the relationship between the pair but just felt Setchell wouldn't be able to take the club where he wants it to go.

'It was a sad thing – it felt terrible and he said he was completely shocked by it,' added Cleeve.

'We had a good relationship all along and I've got the utmost respect for Gary and what he has done at the club.

'It's the hardest thing that I've ever had to do but sometimes difficult decisions have to be made.

'I just feel that Ian has got the pedigree to take the club forward and along with Ray Hall (coaching consultant) we can really kick on.'