Jermain Defoe explains shock Woking exit after short National League spell | OneFootball

Jermain Defoe has left National League side Woking by mutual agreement after a brief first stint in management.

Appointed in March to replace Neal Ardley, the former Sunderland and England striker began his managerial career in the National League. Woking lost only one of six matches under him and finished 10th. The player said in a post on Thursday night that circumstances had made it impossible for him to continue.

That sequence included a 3-0 victory at in-form Gateshead in the final away game of the campaign.

Defoe had been set to return to the International Stadium in the final week of the upcoming season to face a Gateshead team led by his former Sunderland team-mate Lee Cattermole.

He felt they were building something special and described the role as an eye-opening managerial experience that would make him stronger for the next challenge. He thanked chairman Todd Johnson, praised supporters, was gutted for the players and wished the squad success. He also highlighted the project he was building with Paul Bracewell and Karl Halabi.

Source: Sunderland Echo