Paul Hobbs says he departs Kings Langley with a heavy heart but wishes the club the best in their Southern League Premier Division survival bid.

The Gaywood Park club parted company with Hobbs on Tuesday with Kings sitting fourth from bottom in the table.

Hobbs, who took over as manager in the wake of Ritchie Hanlon and Paul Hughes’s resignation in November of last year, understands the club’s desire for stability.

“I am disappointed,” Hobbs said. “I think the club want to make sure a manager is in place to move on with next season and they don’t want to be in the same position, fourth, fifth or sixth from bottom.

“They want to be a mid-table side and that is where they should be and a club of this size deserves that. Kings shouldn’t be fighting off relegation every year.

“Kings Langley have been brilliant and have moved on massively over the last few seasons. Just to be part of that, I have enjoyed the journey.”

For Kings’ part, they insist the decision to make a change was far from easy.

They took the chance to thank Hobbs and his assistant, Andy Stratford, who will also leave his position at the club.

“The club would like to acknowledge the huge debt of gratitude owed to Paul and Andy,” a statement read.

“They depart with the club’s very best wishes for the future and sincere appreciation for the work they have done during their period of tenure.”

Kings’ search for a permanent replacement for Hobbs is well underway and it is vitally important they get their next appointment right.

In the meantime, Steve Conroy, who worked under Hobbs, takes the reigns in an interim capacity and does so with the full backing of his former colleague – with Hobbs hoping Conroy gets the job long-term.

“Steve is a magnificent coach with fantastic ability. He has learned a lot over the last 15 months working with the club,” he said.

“I hope he goes on and gets given the chance long-term and if he does I hope he grabs it. Hopefully the boys on the pitch will help him and I wish him all the best.”

Having initially taken over the job as a short-term post, Hobbs went on to keep Kings up on the final day of last season.

He planned to depart the club at the end of the campaign and would have done so in sweeter circumstances than he did this week.

Hobbs, however, says he wouldn’t change his decision to remain at the club for the 2017/18 season if he had his time again.

“I wanted to do it (stay), and the players wanted me to do it so I decided to see how it went and unfortunately it hasn’t worked out,” he said.

“Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but I wouldn’t give any of it up and loved every minute, even the bus trips home when we have been beaten. I’ve really enjoyed it.”