Departing manager Jason Cook feels he should have left Thurlow Nunn League First Division North side Diss Town sooner

After standing down as Diss Town boss on Monday, Jason Cook has admitted it is a decision he should have taken sooner.

Cook opted to offer up his resignation after a difficult start to the 2018/19 campaign – one that has seen the Tangerines win just four times and currently occupy third from bottom in the Thurlow Nunn League First Division North table.

The ex-Haughley United boss took over a club in turmoil back in July 2017. Previous manager Paul Bugg had only lasted 42 days in the job and Cook was faced with the prospect of having no players signed on upon his arrival.

Nevertheless, he still managed to build a squad that finished 12th and there was much optimism around Brewers Green Lane ahead of the start of the ongoing term, following the arrival of a number of new players.

However, that positivity has failed to yield results and Saturday’s 0-0 home draw with Cornard United has proven to be Cook’s last game in charge of the club.

And on reflection, the departing boss has claimed that talk of a promotion challenge over the summer months should have convinced him to walk away then.

“I was proud of what we achieved last season but I probably should have left after that,” he said.

“I was always uncomfortable with talk of a promotion challenge but I went along with it because I had to.

“I take responsibility for the position the team is in. Players that have been there and done it before came in and have not produced the goods.

“It has hurt my pride to walk away because I am not a quitter. We took a lot of flak on social media at times but we kept going.

“Diss gave me the chance to manage at this level and I am grateful for that, but it was time to move on.”

Diss do not intend to announce Cook’s successor until early 2019, with assistant Mike Derbyshire and experienced player Ricky Cornish taking charge of first-team matters tomorrow at King’s Lynn Town Reserves and for the visit of Wisbech St Mary a week later (both 3pm).

Chairman Richard Upson said: “We had become concerned about our league position and in particular the amount of points picked up in recent weeks.

“Jason resigning has given us the opportunity to start afresh and have a rethink.

“We are currently shortlisting the applicants and are planning to make an appointment early on in the new year.”