'I completely respect the football club and have no regrets!' Dennis Greene confirms his Boston United departure was a mutual decision, but warns that play-off challenges may not be easy to repeat

On Monday night he ended his near-four-year stay in the Pilgrims dug-out following a short telephone conversation with chairman David Newton, where both parties agreed it was time for a change.

In his first three seasons at the Jakemans Stadium, Greene took the club to sixth, third and fifth-place finishes, keeping the side’s promotion dreams alive until their final match in each of those campaigns.

However, that dream never materialised after being pipped to fifth by Guiseley in his first full campaign, followed by play-off semi-final defeats to Chorley and North Ferriby in the past two seasons.

“I’ve got no regrets,” Greene told The Standard.

“I gave it my best and we missed out narrowly twice.

“I’ve had some great times here and I completely respect the football club.”

Greene leaves United with the club four points off the National League North drop zone and out of the FA Cup.

But, following a squad rebuilding in the summer, the former United boss believes the club’s current plight is only exaggerated by how far he took the side in recent campaigns.

He added: “We had an amazing three years. We massively over achieved.

“So when we’re not doing as well this season it looks like we’re underachieving more than perhaps we are.

“But this season the division is very tough, tougher than it has been before.

“I can’t see Boston United getting promotion this season or in the near future.

“That’s not about me or the club, it’s about other teams.

“There are three full time teams in this division and Salford are doing it next season.

“It’s just going to get harder to compete with the sides up there.”

Greene offered his resignation last month following the 4-1 home defeat to FC Halifax Town, but was talked round by chairman Newton.

But when the two spoke on Monday evening, an agreement was soon made.

“It was a very quick call,” Greene admitted.

“We both agreed it was time for a change and that the time was right.”

So what now for the Greene?

“I love football,” he said. “I’ll want to get back into the game at some point.

“But right now I’m going to take a few weeks off, probably visit my mum in Spain, and have a think about things.

“But I’ll be back at some point.”

Despite their parting, Newton also took time to pay tribute to his former manager.

He said: “Dennis is a big character and has been a big part of this football club.

“He’s brought a lot of success to Boston United, but for whatever reason it just didn’t work out this season, despite him trying hard to turn things around.

“It’s not all about results, it’s about progression, and I don’t think we were progressing the way we had hoped, and Dennis agrees with that.

“We both want the best for the club.

“It was a big decision after three really good seasons, but these things have to be done sometimes.”

Newton refused to confirm or deny whether Greene, on a two-year contract with the club, was handed a financial settlement.

But he did make it clear that it’s business as usual at the Jakemans Stadium, adding: “That’s a private matter.

“It’s an employment matter and I can’t discus that.

“The financial situation is that this won’t affect the playing budget.”