FORMER Foxes chief Chris Wood claims the low level of support he received combined with the club's lack of long-term ambition left him with no option but to quit his post.

FORMER Foxes chief Chris Wood claims the low level of support he received combined with the club's lack of long-term ambition left him with no option but to quit his post.

The ex-Clapton boss walked out on the Cricklefields club in the aftermath of Saturday's 3-0 defeat at home to VCD Athletic and he has been replaced by former assistants Colin Walton and Michael Thompson.

Wood had been the subject of criticism from Ilford's vice-chairman Len Llewellyn in the match-day programme before their previous game against Thamesmead Town and voiced his anger in last week's Recorder.

Despite clearing the air with Llewellyn on Saturday, the manager's anger over the perceived slight remained, and after also being enraged by incidents in the game, he resigned shortly after the final whistle.

"I've been thinking like this for five or six weeks. I could have gone at any stage," said Wood, who did not get paid during his time in charge.

"I made two subs in the game and one ripped his shirt open and the other was almost in tears. I understand players don't want to come off, but you don't see other team's players react like that.

"It's not down to that really, but I sat on the fence for the last 20 minutes of the game and thought I don't need all this anymore.

"If I was getting something for it then it might be different and there is nobody more Ilford than me, but they want too much and you get no thanks for it."

He added: "I just wanted my management to be judged by results, it's not me being selfish."

Wood had also expressed his displeasure over the club's wage budget, which he agreed with the board at the start of the season, and said it was symbolic of Ilford's lack of drive to move on to the next level.

"There are three or four teams in this league who don't pay, but apart from that we're about fifth bottom in terms of budget," said Wood.

"I asked for the amount I did because I knew I wouldn't get any more. When I went to them with that figure they ummed and ahhed over it and didn't want to give me that at first.

"I could have said I need to sign a couple of a �70-a-week players, but they wouldn't be prepared to give me the money. That is why they'll always be mid-table, where they are now. If I had got that, then we could have been around the playoffs now.