BASHLEY boss Steve Riley insists it was his decision alone to let assistant Eddie Harper go and that he made it "purely for footballing reasons".

Harper, who unexpectedly left the promotion-chasing outfit last Saturday, had told the Echo: "I think Steve has been put in a position where Eddie Harper and Bashley have to part company.

"I don't think it's totally his decision."

But Riley, who has appointed Martin Doolan in Harper's place, stressed: "It was one of those tough decisions, but it has been made purely for footballing reasons.

"I have worked out certain ideas of how I want to take this club forward, and this is one of the decisions I had to make.

"It has been made in the best interests of the club."

Harper had been Riley's assistant since early in the 2005-06 campaign when they took over from previous manager Dave Wakefield and player-coach Andy Darnton.

The duo guided Bashley to become runaway Southern League Division One South and West champions last season.

When Harper departed, the New Foresters were seventh in the Premier Division, 11 points behind leaders King's Lynn but with three games in hand.

Riley confirmed a change of management structure had been put in place, which meant that Harper's services were no longer required.

The move indicates Bashley want to switch funds from the management to player side to boost their squad's strength.

Riley said: "I have thanked Eddie for the great job he has done in my programme notes for Saturday's (today's) game against Clevedon, and I will be saying that in a letter I will be sending to his home as well.

"It is really just a change with Martin stepping up (from first team coach) to be my right hand man.

"It's one of those tough decisions, but it has been made purely for footballing reasons.

"I appreciate what Eddie has done for me and the club. There is no fall out and Eddie fully understood the reason why (this has happened) when I spoke to him.

"We are friends and we remain friends after we had a long chat about it.

"There are always people who will look at certain situations and try to make out that this or that has happened.

"But both sides have parted on amicable terms and I wish Eddie all the best."

Asked if Doolan had any previous Southern or Wessex League experience as an assistant-manager, Riley said: "No.

"He was with us on the coaching side for all of last season but couldn't give us the full commitment.

"But he is in a position where he can do it now. That is why the move has happened now.

"He is a UEFA B qualified coach who lives in Bashley, just a stone's throw away from the ground."

Doolan is a former Royal Navy colleague of Riley, who has left the senior service and is now a teacher.