BRETT Whaley sent March Town United a defiant goodbye message after leaving to take his dream job this week: “Get promoted without me”.

The talented manager, who guided the Hares to their highest league finish since 1997 last season, was confirmed as Yaxley’s new boss on Saturday.

He said he was delighted to be taking charge of the UCL club which both he and his father, Malcolm, represented as players.

But Whaley also admitted he was sad to leave unfinished business at the GER.

“There’s never a right time to move away from a club you’ve grown so fond of,” he said.

“I said at the beginning of the season that I was coming back to March to finish what I started and again I haven’t quite got to.

“Reports of me going because the board didn’t give me what I wanted are a long way wide of the mark. They gave me everything I wanted.

“It was nothing to do with finances or lack of ambition, it was the fact that my club (Yaxley) came knocking and that was too hard to turn down.”

Assistant manager and centre-back Chris Lenton will follow Whaley to Yaxley - and it is feared that other March players may make the same switch.

But Whaley has backed the Hares to continue their progress and bid for promotion in Thurlow Nunn Division One next season.

“The reason the football club went forward wasn’t just because of me,” he said. “The players got the results and the people behind the scenes deserve a lot of credit.

“There’s no reason why that progression can’t continue. I would love to see them get promoted.

“I was made so welcome at March that I now have a real affection for the club. It will be the first result I check every week.

“I would like to thank all the March players for what they did for me. In a way, they’ve helped me get the job I’ve always wanted.”