JOHN ROBSON has spoken of his bitter disappointment after walking out as first-team coach of Wessex League outfit Gosport Borough.

The vastly experienced former Winchester City, AFC Totton and Bashley boss, pictured above, angrily quit Privett Park after the Borough hierarchy stated publicly that he had not been confirmed as first-team manager for next season.

With team boss Mick Marsh emigrating to Spain this summer, all the signs were that Robson was being groomed as his successor and Marsh himself admitted this week: "We all thought John had the job and I even told the players he'd got it about six weeks ago."

But when Robson implied on a local non-league website that the job was his, club secretary Brian Cosgrave stressed "categorically" that no decision had been made. And club chairman John Stimpson later confirmed: "At the point when John walked out, the club was considering its options."

Rumours are now abounding about possible new candidates, including legendary Portsmouth goalkeeper Alan Knight and Winchester City boss Neil Hards.

For Robson there is a feeling of deja-vu about the latest turn of events. Less than a year ago he left Bashley by mutual consent having complained about lack of support from club officials.

He said: "It was well-known to the Gosport players that I was taking over and I even went out to dinner with the directors and their wives recently and spoke openly about my intention to cut the budget next season and make the players earn good wages with win bonuses etc. I kept saying I was only the coach, but they said 'No, no, you're going to be the manager.'

"From day one I was led to believe the job was mine. I never assumed it was definite, but people at the club kept telling me it was."

As an additional slap in the face for Robson, there were suggestions that he had not taken enough interest in Borough's reserve and youth sides.

He said: "One minute they say I'm just a coach and the next I should see more of the youth and reserve teams, which wasn't my immediate responsibility. But I did watch youth and reserve games and I told Andy Bye (under-18 coach) and others that there were two or three players I felt were good enough to step up."

Marsh, who has a 2-1 first-leg deficit to overturn against Hamworthy United in the Wessex League Cup semi-final at Privett Park tonight, admitted: "The players keep asking me what's happening, but I know very little because I haven't been involved in any of this. It's unfortunate for John, but that's football. It's happened to us all."

Gosport have Adam Camfield back from suspension tonight and both Perry Holland and Mark Tryon are fit to play.

Wide man Holland has been out twice this season with broken ribs and once with a twisted ankle and Marsh believes his return spells good news for master marksman Neil Scammell.

He said: "Perry's got a sweet left foot which Neil has missed. His delivery is first class. Hamworthy were celebrating last week as if they'd already won the tie, but there's more to come from us."