Former Oxhey Jets boss Wayne Gladdy believes he should have stepped down two seasons ago before resigning last week to avoid ruining friendships.

Gladdy, 35, has been with Jets since he joined at the age of 18 but quit prior to Saturday’s 3-1 defeat against Spartan South Midlands Premier Division leaders AFC Dunstable.

His younger brother, Warren, stepped into the breach to lead the side after Gladdy Snr took the decision to relinquish his post in his third season at the helm.

Gladdy told the Watford Observer a fortnight ago that attitudes within the squad were not right and hoped a 1-0 win over Biggleswade United could provide the springboard for improvement.

“In all honesty it’s been coming for a few weeks,” said Gladdy. “The Biggleswade result kept me interested for another week but nothing has changed and I couldn’t see it changing.”

He continued: “I achieved what I needed to after the first season and we won the St Mary’s Cup (2013/14). I do believe I should have gone then or the club should have made the change.

“We had a good squad but it was a squad of my friends who had stepped in to help me out and that doesn’t help in football.

“It did help at the time but it worked against us at the end. It’s hard to change attitudes when you don’t want to ruin friendships. I was enjoying it at the time so I kept doing it and it hasn’t helped us in the long run – that’s my biggest fault.

“It’s definitely a feeling of relief, I think I did the right thing. I didn’t want to lose good friendships I’ve made in playing football and it was sort of going that way. I was arguing with good friends and I didn’t want that.”

Jets host Berkhamsted in the Premier Division on Saturday.

Sun Sports were 3-2 winners at Leverstock Green in the first round of the Challenge Trophy on Tuesday.

Karl Penny (two) and Scott Bonner scored for Sun with Louis Bircham twice replying for hosts Levy.

Sun will face Hertford Town in round two, having lost 2-1 against the same side on Saturday. They return to league action at Welwyn Garden City this weekend.

Green’s match at Stotfold on Saturday was abandoned after 67 minutes due to a clash of heads which saw Leverstock keeper Liam McDonagh and Stotfold’s Ben L’Honore both taken to hospital following a lengthy delay. McDonagh was subsequently found to have suffered a fractured skull and broken nose.

Levy host AFC Dunstable on Saturday.

Berkhamsted beat Aylesbury United Reserves 4-2 in the Challenge Trophy on Tuesday and will face London Colney in the next round, improving on Saturday’s 1-1 league draw with FC Broxbourne Borough.

Tring Athletic are also into round two thanks to a 4-1 home win against St Margaretsbury on Tuesday.

Julian Robinson’s side drew 1-1 at Colney Heath on Saturday.

A visit from Bedford awaits this weekend.