Tooting & Mitcham captain Lee Hall says the changing room was in shock when Roberto Forzoni told them he had been "asked to resign" following the 5-2 defeat at Hythe Town.

The Terrors are second from bottom of the Ryman League Division One South table having picked up six points from the first 24 available - but Hall says the team were right behind Forzoni and that it was too early to wield the axe.

After a feisty encounter on Saturday, where Forzoni was sent to the stands by the referee, the Tooting players returned to the changing room to be delivered the news by Forzoni himself.

Hall said: "It was weird. During the game on Saturday the referee was abysmal and it got a little feisty with tackles flying in and the referee blowing his whistle every five seconds.

"There was another bad decision against us and Roberto said something the to linesman, who called the referee over and Roberto was sent to the stands with about five minutes to go.

"After the game, we all got back in the dressing room and Roberto came in and told us he had been asked to resign. We could not believe it, some of the lads were upset. He was in shock himself.

"What people don't realised is that Roberto and his staff do so much for the club. Some of the boys don't realise how good they had it - from making sure the kit is clean to buying us things like bananas, sports drinks and even jelly babies for energy, out of their own pocket."

He added: "I don't know who told who told him to resign but he had a phone call and that was that."

Assistant manager Jamie Martin steps in as caretaker manager.