Nikki Bull has resigned as manager of Margate.

The 35-year-old announced his decision in a statement late on Thursday admitting he leaves Hartsdown Park with "a heavy heart."

Goalkeeper Bull took over in December 2015, following the sacking of Terry Brown, and leaves with the club bottom of Vanarama National South, after a demoralising run of 16 successive defeats, the last a 1-0 loss at East Thurrock on Tuesday night, after conceding an 87th minute winner.

Bull said: "It is with a heavy heart that I have resigned as manager of Margate Football Club.

"As everybody has been aware the club has experienced severe financial problems over the past six months and I am proud that during this time we have managed to not only keep the club in business but also stabilise it and meet the financial issues head on and resolve them in the correct manner to the point that now the club is an attractive proposition for new investors to purchase the club.

"With the takeover nearing completion I feel that it is in everyone's best interests that the new owners bring in a fresh management team to lead the club forward into an exciting new period.

"Despite the constant off the field problems that have I have encountered and had to endure I have always conducted myself with dignity and always made decisions that put the football club first.

"Results on the pitch have not been good enough but given the resources I have had to work with I am proud of the players efforts and commitments over the past few months that have enabled us to remain competitive in the games that we have played.

"I would lastly like to thank all of the supporters that have given me fantastic support during my time as both a player and manager of Margate Football Club."

Bull's assistant Steve Brown will take charge of the team for the home game against fellow-strugglers Whitehawk on Saturday but the former Ebbsfleet manager has said he does not want the job

permanently.

A club statement said: "The search for a new manager will start immediately with Steve Brown taking the team until a replacement is found.

"Steve was told tonight (Thursday) by Nikki personally and has made it clear to both Nikki and chairman Alistair Bayliss that he has no interest in the position and did not want to be considered for it.

"We all wish Nikki well for the future and can't thank him enough for everything he has done for the club over the past three years both on and off the pitch."

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