SACKED Selby Town boss Leon Sewell said he feels like he has been “kicked in the teeth” after the Northern Counties East League strugglers fired him after just 13 weeks in charge.

Sewell claims he was not “given a chance” by chiefs at the Flaxley Road side, who lie rock bottom of the premier division with just two points from their opening nine games.

Given the boot following Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Maltby Main, Sewell was quickly replaced by Haxby United manager Dave Heard, who has brought with him a number of players from the York Minster Engineering League premier division outfit – including his prolific goalscoring son, Craig.

The dismissal has left a bad taste for Sewell, who says he has “wasted 13 weeks of my time”.

“I feel I have been a bit hard done by,” he said.

“When I had my interview, and meetings through pre-season, I was told I would have to establish a young, local team working on a very small budget.

“That’s obviously what I have done. Yes, results have not been the best but – since the Bridlington game (lost 7-0) – the improvement made has been massive.

“A point was picked up on Saturday, it should have been three and we should have had three against Long Eaton and Winterton.

“These are young lads and some of them haven’t got a lot of Northern Counties experience.

“From the first pre-season session I took to Saturday was 13 weeks. Everyone knows there is not a lot of money there (at Selby). It is hard to attract players.

“Some of the experienced lads that have played there I spoke to in the summer and they were happy to shop around. I had three players there from last season and the rest of the lads were new.

“They were new to one another, to me, and to the standard of football.

“The first win was so close to happening.

“This is a bit of a kick in the teeth and I feel like I have wasted 13 weeks of my time – to be not given a chance – having been fully committed to the club, having not taking a penny out of it and driving from Hull every week.”

No one from Selby Town was available to comment.

Haxby United, meanwhile, have been left appealing for players following Heard’s departure.

A total of seven members of the squad are believed to have gone with him to Selby.

Haxby chairman Chris Watkinson admitted it was impossible for the club to stand in the way of Heard and any players eager to test themselves at Northern Counties East League level.

The club’s reserve team boss has stepped up to manage the senior side, so Watkinson is keen to hear from anyone interested in playing for Haxby and also in managing the second string.

Prospective players should be aged 16 and over to play in the first-team in the premier division or the reserves in reserve ‘A’ on Saturdays.

Anyone interested should phone Watkinson on 07748 763139 for more details.