UNIBOND League strugglers Goole have sacked manager Paul Marshall despite a glimmer of hope in the midweek West Riding Cup win at Thackley.

The Vikings have hit a five-match UniBond Division One losing streak that has seen them drop down to third bottom.

But even though York-based Marshall remained confident of turning things around, he was asked to resign after Tuesday night's 4-1 defeat of NCEL side Thackley.

He said: "I was asked to resign on Tuesday. I didn't want to resign. We have had five defeats in 15 days and that's hard to take but the chairman said he wanted me to resign.

"It came out of the blue really. Only two weeks ago, the chairman (Des O'Hearne) was saying 'I'm not sacking anyone'. It seems that two years at the top where we've had over a 50 per cent win rate counts for nothing.

"I'm disappointed because I don't think I was given long enough to turn it around. Tuesday's match could have been a turning point but now we'll never know.

"The chairman's been quoted as saying I hadn't brought enough players in or some of the players weren't good enough but you can't just get rid of all of your players."

The managerial reins have been handed to veteran defender Nigel Danby - a long-standing friend and player of Marshall's - while a permanent replacement is sorted, and he will be in charge for tomorrow's tough league match at home to third-placed Fleetwood Town.

Marshall, whose managerial highpoints to date have included taking Harrogate Railway to the second round proper of the FA Cup, winning the President's Cup and winning the NCEL premier division title in his first full season in charge, hopes to be back in the game soon.

Updated: 11:22 Friday, November 04, 2005