GLENN AITKEN’S 17-month reign as Gravesend and Northfleet’s chief executive has ended with a shock parting of the ways.

The decision comes with the club lying fifth in the Nationwide Conference and averaging gates of 1,400.

Aitken, the 52-year-old former Chelsea, Gillingham, Wimbledon and Maidstone United midfielder, was summoned to chairman Brian Mr Kilcullen’s office on Monday to be told of the decision.

The club announced in a terse statement that Aitken would be leaving with immediate effect and that Mr Kilcullen would assume the role on a caretaker basis until the season’s end.

"Operational differences have led the board to make this decision, despite Glenn having brought value to the club in a number of ways,” said Mr Kilcullen.

Asked to elaborate on what was meant by operational differences, Mr Kilcullen explained: “When Glenn was appointed it was with a brief to meet a number of central objectives. Some were met, some were not."

Aitken said: “I’m stunned and devastated because I believe Gravesend are a club that is going places and I wanted to play a role.

"I believe I can make a contribution for the good of the game so I want to stay in football."

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