Howell’s vow as he leaves Bognor Regis Town: I’ll remember the good times

The club and Howell parted company last week after the team’s inconsistent season ontinued with a 3-1 defeat away to Kingstonian.

Howell had been sole manager since August when joint boss Michael Birmingham left.

The pair had taken over midway through last season but had been unable to stave off relegation from the Isthmian premier.

This season has had promising spells – but they have not been able to string together any decent sequence of results.

It’s left them still looking nervously over their shoulders at the relegation zone – and they’re currently six points, but also six places, above the safety line.

As reported earlier, ex-Pompey and Charlton midfielder Danny Hollands has been appointed as the new manager following Howell’s departure.

Howell told the Observer: “I can look back on many happy memories at the club as a player and a manager.

"This season we were trying to stabilise and build a team for next season and had a good run up to Christmas, but form hadn’t been so good since.

"We had conversations and this is probably best for all parties.

"The club and the fans have always been good to me and I had some great times at Nyewood Lane.”

Howell played in midfield for the Rocks for many years, then returned as manager, alongside Darin Killpartrick, in 2009, later becoming sole manager.

He was at the helm for the 2016 run to the FA Trophy semi-finals and promotion to the National League South a year later before moving to Eastbourne Borough.

Howell, who runs a junior football academy, said he did not expect to take another management job.

Rocks chief Jack Pearce said Howell had been a great servant over a 30-year period as a player and boss.

"Jamie has done so much for Bognor Regis Town over his many years with us as a player, coach and manager and we would like to thank him enormously for his loyal service and efforts and, of course, we all wish him every success going forward in his career," Pearce said.