Needham Market boss Mark Morsley has hit out at his former club Leiston after their decision to sack Steve Pitt.

A war of words has broken out between Needham Market boss Mark Morsley and Leiston’s director of football David Bugg.

It hinges around Leiston’s sacking of Steve Pitt on Tuesday night.

Morsley is a good friend of Pitt, as well as a former manager of Leiston.

In his weekly column, ‘Morsley Musings’ which appear on the Needham Market website, Morsley admits to being staggered at Pitt’s dismissal.

“Management in non-league football can at times be an interesting experience with many skills needed to deal with all that can be thrown at you,” Morsley said.

“There is real camaraderie between a lot of us and there are plenty that talk to me and vice-versa on a regular basis.

Steve Pitt is one of these guys and I have enjoyed with him his recent successes.

“Always about for a chat to exchange views, many years of experience and without a doubt a guy with more football contacts than anyone I know. He is also a proper bloke and I like him immensely.

“When he was appointed to manage Leiston – the club that I had my most successful and thoroughly enjoyable years in my management career at – I was really pleased for him.

“With his two-year deal I knew that in time he would mould that team into one that would maintain their Ryman Premier Division status this year and push on next year.

“So, driving home the other night, he contacted me to say that he had been sacked following the 4-1 win at Lowestoft – I nearly crashed my car!!

With Pitt’s record standing at eight games, four wins, two draws and two defeats, Morsley admitted: “Has the world gone mad? I thought that normally the manager get the bullet following a run of defeats?”

The man was working his backside off to improve things at ‘his’ club and he has been treated like this, well I am sorry but it is a disgrace.

“I can only say it’s a decision that is up there with changing the colour of the Cardiff 1st choice kit and renaming Hull City.”

In response to Morsley’s thoughts, director of football at Leiston, David Bugg said: “I was always taught not to criticise other clubs and even more so if I didn’t know all the facts – which clearly Mark doesnt.

“Steve Pitt is a good bloke but the decision was made by chairman Andy Crisp completely with the interests of Leiston Football club at heart. And he’s not wrong in that.

“Andy is one of the most genuine people I have ever met in non-league football and he was upset on Tuesday night having to tell Steve the news.

“But it wasn’t player power. There were concerns expressed, yes there was. But if Mark has any criticism of our players he should keep it to himself.

“He could do with remembering he signed most of them when he was manager!”