Despite coming on as a sub in the Conference play-off final at Leicester in 2006, Jamie Pitman was not offered a further contract with Hereford United.
"It's tough being released, especially as I live in the area," said Pitman.
"But that's football, these things happen and I have accepted the decision."
Graham Turner admitted releasing Pitman hadn't been easy.
"The timing is awful isn't it. All the euphoria of the weekend and then come Monday morning there is a dampener on it."
Pitman spoke to the Worcester News about his position.
"I've got things in the pipeline. I'm sure something will be sorted out quickly and that's good for my own piece of mind.
"I want another challenge. If I could stay in the area, then great.
"It's hard to take having been there (at Hereford) for so long, having helped the club into the position they are in today, being involved and helping them to promotion.
"It's unfortunate that their plans don't include me. I wanted to stay at Hereford.
"I live in the town and it would have been great to stay and play the first game of the season. There would be a big crowd and everybody would be buzzing. I'll miss those type of things.
"I've got the utmost respect for Graham Turner. He's always been brilliant to me."
Pitman wasn't out of a job for long as by the following week he had signed for Forest Green Rovers.
"Despite the rural location of Forest Green, on the two occasions I played against them last season, under Gary Owers they proved on the day what formidable opposition they can be, drawing both games and coming from behind on each occasion to do so.
Though I am long in the tooth, with extensive Conference experience behind me, Gary is the type of manager that will suit my temperament. I not only look forward to working with him and the squad, with the new stadium but also their top class training facilities. Having left behind a successful club I now face new horizons and a new season with relish."
Pitman made a total of 64 appearances for Forest Green in the Conference scoring just once and was promoted to assistant manager by Jim Harvey in August 2007.
However on September 1st just a few weeks into the 2008/09 season Pitman quit Forest Green to return to Hereford United as physio. The move appeared to happen very quickly after the previous physio Wayne Jones announced he was off to Yeovil.
"We have made a very encouraging start and Jamie has been very much a part of the coaching and playing squad up to this week," said manager Harvey.
"We have had an extremely good working relationship and it therefore came as a great surprise when Jamie told me he was leaving after just six games into the season."
Turner welcomed the return of Pitman to Edgar Street.
"Jamie - it's perhaps ironic that when I last saw him in the boardroom we told him we weren't offering him a new contract but I was sure that some time in the future we would work together and he would come into the club as physio because I knew he had his qualifications. Two, three years later he is back with us."
Pitman continued as physio until October 4th last year, when Simon Davey was sacked as manager. A hour or so later he was appointed care-taker manager.
"I'm going to fill my boots and enjoy doing it," Pitman told BBC H&W.
"I enjoy being physio and I enjoy the coaching side as well. It's great to be involved.
"I'm just doing the job for the chairman, I'm just filling in."
He 'filled in' for a couple of weeks before being told it was his job until the end of the year. And in mid-December that was extended until the end of the season.
"It's a great opportunity for me and something I couldn't turn down," said Pitman.
"I'm very pleased they felt they were able to give me the job.
"I haven't done any physio stuff since the second week of me taking over as care-taker manager. We've got someone in doing that.
"The uncertainty has finished. Everyone knows I'm in charge until the end of the season which I'm very pleased about."
When Pitman first joined Hereford United in 1996 - he was former scout Ron Jukes first recommendation - it's unlikely he ever thought that fifteen years later he would be the manager.
(Parts one and two of this article were published on BN last week)
Text at top (next game etc)
Next Game: Rushall At Home In The League On Saturday 30th November At 3.00pm