STEVE Claridge claims he was the victim of a personality clash with Weymouth chief executive Martyn Harrison.

The sacked player-manager told today how he was 'gutted' to be shown the Wessex Stadium door after 15 months in charge.

The remaining four years of the striker's five-year £1,000-a-week contract was terminated by mutual consent during a behind-closed-doors meeting last night.

And the former Leicester City star today revealed he was still coming to terms with his exit from the mid-table Nationwide South outfit.

He told Echosport: "Ultimately I am gutted that my reign has ended like this and it is very difficult to take.

"I agree things have not gone as well as we would have liked this season but people need to look at the bigger picture. We are only seven points off the play-offs and have a lot of good players. I feel this decision was probably down to personalities and not football.

"A lot of things have gone on which I could say and have not liked but I want to take stock before saying too much more."

Question marks surrounded Claridge's future once Harrison arrived at Radipole Lane in the summer. Chairman Ian Ridley, a friend of the veteran front-man soon departed, and now the player-boss has gone just six weeks later.

Claridge said he was pleased to shake hands with Weymouth on a financial settlement.

"I'm glad the club has worked everything out amicably and thank them for that," he said.

"I've worked with and met a lot of great people at Weymouth and I wish everyone all the best for the future."

Terras officials revealed Claridge's lucrative contract was too much of a long-term financial burden. And they said below-par team performances forced them to take decisive action.

Harrison said: "The board decided that parting with Steve is something we have had to do for the long-term benefit of the club, both from a financial and footballing point of view.

"This is something that has been building up for a while now and it marks the end of an era. Steve was under a long and lucrative contract and, to be honest, it would have been a difficult contract for the club to fulfil that deal in the future.

"We are not a big club with pots of gold and the simple fact is we have to look at everything from a business standpoint and what allows Weymouth to move forward.

"But this is not just a financial decision and the footballing side of things has also been a big factor behind the decision.

"Steve was given a lot of money in the summer to go out and sign the players we hoped would put us in a position to challenge for promotion.

"Those guys have definitely underachieved this season and the last few weeks have been a really big disappointment.

"The FA Cup exit at Thame the other night proved the final straw and something had to be done after that. The fans have also started to vent their anger and there is only so long you can sit and hope things change soon. I get the impression from quite a few supporters that this is something they wanted to happen."

Harrison added: "There's no doubt Steve is a knowledgeable guy who has achieved an awful lot in the game and we, as a board, thank him for all he has done at the club.

"But this is just something that had to be done and I hope everyone will understand that. Now we need to get on with the job of moving up the table and starting a new era."