GRAVESEND and Northfleet's former assistant manager Phil Handford parted company with the club after what he described as an “altercation” with a director on the way to the club's FA Cup, fourth qualifying tie at Exeter on October 25.

Handford, who resigned after the tie, had been placed in charge of the team for the trip to Devon in the absence of manager Andy Ford who travelled independently to see relatives in the area.

Handford, Ford's No 2 for six years, said: “All I wish to say is that events leading up to the tie at Exeter tipped me over the edge. I'm not prepared to elaborate but I wish the club and the players well. They are the best bunch that I've worked with and leaving them behind really saddens me.”

Asked whether he intended staying in the game, Handford said: “I'm going to let the dust settle. If the phone rings with a job offer great, if it doesn't I won't lose any sleep.”

It was an open secret that the 39-year-old former Gillingham, Crewe and Wimbledon midfielder had become increasingly frustrated with what he perceived as the club’s lack of progress.

Handford is thought to have been involved in the altercation with the club official during a stop at the Fleet Service area.

Since linking up with Ford at Stonebridge Road, he has emerged as one of the brightest young managerial prospects in Kent and was highly influential in the club's promotion to the Conference.

Ford, who fought a losing battle to talk Handford out of resigning, said: “His decision saddened me because we had a great working relationship for six years."

Fleet's chief executive Glenn Aitken said in a statement: “Phil has done a great job in his time with us. He is an excellent coach and a nice guy."