AN EMOTIONAL John Askey has said he is “upset” and “hurt” after being sacked as manager of York City.

Askey took charge of York, initially on an interim basis, in November last year, before becoming manager on a permanent basis in March.

He then led City to promotion through the Vanarama National League North play-offs and delivered an Isuzu FA Trophy semi-final spot.

Askey, who turned down a move to Sky Bet League Two club Rochdale to sign a new deal until the end of 2023/24 in September, has since guided York to 12th after 19 matches in the National League.

However, tensions have risen between Askey and chairman Glen Henderson ever since the club’s takeover in July.

The former manager was left feeling “undermined” by Henderson’s discussions with players over the team’s style of football and the lack of contact between himself and the board.

Speaking to BBC Radio York, Askey said: “I’m really sad. I’ve enjoyed my time at the club and the support has been fantastic.

“It’s not something I wanted to happen, so I’m really disappointed.

“I was disappointed with how it was done. I stood in front of a printing machine, waiting for a letter to be printed.

“I read the letter and it says ‘You’re sacked’. That’s the biggest thing that hurt me more than anything.

“Alastair (Smith, chief executive) gave me the letter. Nobody spoke to me.

“I think I deserve better than that and I think anyone deserves better than that, to be perfectly honest.

“Nobody ever came to me and said ‘John, you’re not doing a good job.’

“I’ve had no contact with anyone. I’ve not spoken to anyone, other than over text, for six to seven weeks.

“When I have spoken to someone, I’ve had to make the phone call.”

York fans on social media have expressed their outrage at the decision and remained overwhelming supportive of Askey.

“That’s special,” a tearful Askey said. “It doesn’t happen (elsewhere) and I realise that. You can tell I’m upset.”

A York statement claimed that Askey told the club he did not wish to remain at the club “but was not in a position to resign due to his personal circumstances”.

That expression came on Thursday, November 3, two days after Henderson’s controversial question-and-answer on Radio York in which he failed to give public backing to Askey.

“The reason why I said what I said was because after the interview with the chairman and other things that had gone on, I felt undermined,” Askey explained.

“It got to a stage where I said that ‘I can’t work with a chairman who is doing this all the time’.

“I didn’t say I wanted to leave. I said I couldn’t work with that going on.

“It started in the second game of pre-season. He (Henderson) went to the players and asked them if they were happy with the way that we play and the style of football.

“He said that when we won promotion, we weren’t playing good football.

“That’s not what you want to hear as a manager.”

City’s statement also claimed that Askey cancelled a meeting, set up by the board, at short notice to “discuss budgets”.

Askey has denied this, stating that he set up the discussion and that the board had not organised one meeting with him since Henderson and the Supporters’ Trust’s takeover.

The ex-manager added that the club’s inability to pay transfer fees for new players did not contribute to his unhappiness and that his comments on the issue were said to keep “supporters aware of the situation and the expectations.”

First-team coach Kingsley James has turned down the approach to become interim manager, an appointment which is set to come from the club’s existing staff, Askey has said.

York are aiming to appoint a permanent successor to Askey by the end of the month.

City have said they recognise "some fans will not support or fully understand" the decision but felt that the situation was "irretrievable."