AVELEY have parted company with manager Terry Spillane following a poor start to the Isthmian North season.

The Millers confirmed that Spillane has left the club in a statement, less than 24 hours after suffering a 3-1 defeat to Waltham Abbey at Parkside.

The statement read: “Aveley Football Club have mutually parted company with manager Terry Spillane after a disappointing start to the 2017/18 campaign.

“It is unfortunate that results on the pitch at Parkside this season have not befitted the club’s fantastic new facilities, and the backing the club has received from the local people.”

And Millers chief executive Craig Johnson admitted that it was not an easy decision to part ways with the experienced boss.

Johnson said: “It is never easy to make decisions like this as Terry is a good, hardworking guy but things have not gone his way this season.

“I would like to thank Terry and his staff for their commitment and wish them all the best moving forward.”

Spillane’s final game in charge proved to be on Monday night, when Aveley welcomed Waltham Abbey to Parkside.

But the Millers fell behind on 16 minutes as Christian Assombalonga latched onto a ball forward and poked past the onrushing Aveley goalkeeper Rhys Madden.

And Shad Ngandu nodded in Waltham Abbey’s second at the back post on 33 minutes.

Waltham Abbey put the game out of Aveley’s reach with 12 minutes remaining as Daniel Rimmell beat Madden at his near post.

Billy Coyne converted a late penalty after Harry Cook was bundled over by Eli Benoit, but it proved too little too late for Spillane as Aveley begin their search for a new manager.