Bloxham's Basildon United exit down to 'club's future direction'

Bloxham left his post on Saturday after speaking with Connor following the end of the Essex Senior League season, which had seen the Bees finish in the top 10 and enjoy runs in the Essex Senior Cup, FA Vase and League Challenge Cup.

And, while Connor wanted to build the side around the club’s youth section and home grown players, Bloxham felt that would not lead the club to where he wanted to take them.

“Lee wanted to go in a direction of bringing through youth which as a chairman is fair enough but I felt we needed more to move forward,” said the former White Ensign manager.

“That is not to say I don’t want to bring through young players. We had a very low average age last season but, from my perspective, I decided we weren’t going to be moving forward as much as I wanted to.

“We have left it on good terms and I wish them all the best in whatever direction they go in.”

Connor added he would be bringing in a replacement in the next two or three weeks, as he looks to continue building links with the local community.

And he reserved praise for the job Bloxham had done.

“Aaron has done well this season as he pretty much had his White Ensign squad from the Olympian League,” he said.

“I can’t take that away from him but I had to look at the longer term future of Basildon and what I want to achieve as a chairman and locally.

“Can Aaron take it forward in terms of youth? I wasn’t sure he was the right person.

“I want this team to be built on home grown players. It will be hard but it is the way forward. It was a mutual decision in the end.

“We have taken on Woodlands School’s under 18 team and hope to enter them into the Eastern Junior Alliance.

“We will have a West Ham affiliated manager running that team so it is exciting.

“I have spoken to someone throughout the season in terms of the youth side of things.

“I expect to have a decision in a fortnight or so.”