FORMER FC Clacton assistant manager Mike Wallace is hungry to get back into football as soon as possible – alongside Kieron Shelley.

The pair left the Seasiders by mutual consent on Tuesday morning.

Shelley had been manager since September 2016 and right-hand man Wallace joined him last May.

The latter, who had previously been performance analyst at Brightlingsea Regent, said he was “gutted” to be leaving the Rush Green Bowl.

However, he hopes another opportunity presents itself soon.

“We’re both really disappointed things haven’t worked out but we’ve already vowed to come back stronger,” he told the Gazette.

“We believe in ourselves and are prepared to work hard.

“We want to stay together, as a managerial team, and we’d like to get involved again as soon as possible.

“We’re available now and would love to get back in straight away.

“We are willing to travel, so we’re not just restricting ourselves to a club in Tendring or around Colchester.

“We believe we can manage at this level but we’d consider other clubs at other levels, including those in the Essex and Suffolk Border League or the Essex Olympian League.

“As long as it’s an ambitious, progressive club, we’d certainly be interested.

“We’ve got a hunger to get involved somewhere else.

“We just need another opportunity and another club that matches our ambition.

“As a duo, I feel we’ve struck up a real bond and I love working with Kieron.

“I always said that the day he left, I’d leave too and that’s what’s happened.

“We’ve made mistakes and we’re still learning but there’s a real understanding and a mutual respect.

“We complement each other well and have different strengths and weaknesses.

“We said at the beginning that this was the start of a journey.

“Although this particular chapter has come to an end, we definitely want to continue elsewhere.”

Wallace added that there was no bitterness towards Clacton and he hopes the club recover from their poor start to 2018.

They are yet to pocket a point or score a goal since Boxing Day.

“I’m gutted because I have a lot of time for Clacton,” he added.

“There’s no bitterness and I wish everyone here the best of luck for the future.

“I’d like to thank everyone – the club for the opportunity and all those who have supported us, especially the fans.”