SWINDON Supermarine chairman Jez Webb believes he has made the right call after relieving manager Dave Webb of first team duties.

Saturday’s 5-0 defeat at home to Bideford signalled the end of a five-and-a-half year stint at Supermarine for the 50-year-old, who was told his services were no longer required on Tuesday night.

While the Supermarine chief says it was a hard choice to make to part ways with namesake Webb, he believes it will serve the Evo-Stik League South West club well in the long term.

He was also quick to thank Webb for his enthusiasm and hard work during his time at the Webbswood Stadium.

“It wasn’t a pleasant evening because there is everything right with a person in Dave,” said the Marine chairman. “He’s honest, reliable and hard-working which made it all the more miserable. ”

“We had a run of results, the pressure was on and I didn’t want to be that chairman who didn’t listen.

“It is what it is, I’ll miss him greatly as a friend. There were a few fans, a few volunteers and a couple of people on the board and committee, it was a collection of things.

“It certainly didn’t help we were on a run which got us two points out of 12 from teams who were below us in the table.

“I think it just gained momentum, we came to a mutual agreement and, unsurprisingly, he was 100 per cent honourable in the way he dealt with it.

“He ignited my passion for local football, which really spurred me on to build the Swindome, so with his way about him, he has created great things at Supermarine.”

With the search for a successor underway, the first team will be taken care of by Webb’s former assistant, Lee Spalding, whose first assignment was last night’s league clash at Evesham United.

The requirements for the new manager are set to be sent out in the coming days, and the Supermarine supremo has set lofty ambitions for Marine’s next boss.

“We don’t need someone in as soon as we can,” he added. “I’m really comfortable with Lee taking the team, but we might have a few bad results.”

“I would really like to take my time and get the right person. I would like someone who has managed at one or two levels above us.

“We might have a manager of high calibre apply for the job. The message for the fans is to be patient with us, because we will find the right person.

“I expect the deadline for applications to be the middle or end of next week, with the interview process the following week.”