PORTLAND United boss Simon Browne has conceded that he was “disappointed” by the timing of former assistant-manager Mark Carter’s decision to leave Grove Corner.

Just a week before the season started, Carter left Portland to join Brendon King at Hamworthy United, leaving Browne with a temporary backroom staff of Carl Mutch and Micky Greeno.

Given the circumstances, Browne insisted that there had been “no falling out”.

He told Echosport: “There’s no getting away from it. Mark deciding to leave a week before the season was not ideal, and I said that to him.

“I was disappointed with the decision and disappointed with the timing, but there’s no falling out. We have been in touch since, there’s no drama.

“With the greatest of respect to Mark, the assistant-manager has left. It doesn’t make any difference to the players that are out there on the pitch.

Commenting on the willingness of Mutch and Greeno to come forward, Browne said he was “grateful” for their help.

“I’m grateful that Carl has stepped up from the playing side of things. It’s nice to have Micky there too. I’m really grateful for what he’s done.

“He needed a break from football after Weymouth last year. He saw my situation and offered to help,” he said.

With the season already in full flow, Browne revealed that he is not hurrying a decision on Carter’s permanent replacement.

He said: “I’ve got a couple of names that I’m thinking about. But with Mark leaving a week before the season, my focus is on getting the team ready. The games are coming thick and fast.

“It’s not something that I’m rushing to get sorted, I’ve got to find the right person. I’m hoping that we can extend Micky’s stay with us.”

The Blues got off to a winning start in their league campaign, comfortably beating Team Solent 6-1, but Browne is cautious against making any early predictions for the season.

He said: “It’s probably difficult to gauge where that result sits in terms of the rest of the Wessex League, it’s all about consistency. Winning 6-1 is great, but we’ll see where we are in six games’ time.

“I’ve got an idea of where I think the season will go but it’s the first few months at the club and it’s been hard work.

“I took over at Hamworthy when we were bottom of the league. At Wimborne we were sorting out their financial problems.

“Coming to Portland if we can get down to that routine of a Saturday, Tuesday, Thursday and look to bring in the plans and model the team in the way we want to play, that’s it.

“It’s really nice when you get that reaction from the players. They get that bit of an inkling that you know what you’re talking about!”