Ex-Tottenham and England striker Jermain Defoe has walked away from his first job as a manager after just 116 days.
The Woking boss has claimed it was “impossible” to continue in charge of the National League side, and that his short time at the club was an “eye-opening experience”.
Defoe was only appointed in March and leaves just two weeks out from Woking’s National League opener against Sutton United.
He won two of his six matches in charge at the back end of last season, finishing 10th in the table. But his time has not come to an end after a mutual agreement to terminate his contract.
The club said in a statement: “Woking can confirm that the club and first-team manager Jermain Defoe have mutually agreed to part ways with immediate effect.
“We would like to place on record our sincere thanks to Jermain for his contribution during his time at Woking, and we wish him every success in the future.
“The club remains fully focused on delivering its objectives both on and off the pitch. We would like to thank our supporters for their continued support.”
Defoe opens up on exit
Defoe released his own statement on social media, giving fans some more clarity into his departure.
He said: “Following recent discussions, I can confirm that I have mutually agreed to leave my position as manager of Woking FC,” Defoe said on Instagram.
“Unfortunately, circumstances have ultimately made it impossible for me to continue in the position. I am extremely proud of the work undertaken during my time at the club and genuinely felt that we were building something special.
“I would like to thank Todd Johnson for giving me the opportunity to manage the club. I am incredibly grateful to the supporters and, most importantly, the players, who I am genuinely gutted for. The group is a fantastic one, and I wish the squad every success for the season ahead.
“I’m really disappointed the journey has ended so soon, but I leave with great pride in what Paul Bracewell, Karl Halabi and I were building at the club.
“My time at Woking FC has been an eye-opening managerial experience and one that will undoubtedly make me stronger for the next challenge in my career.”
Defoe made over 600 professional appearances during his playing career, alongside 57 outings for England.
His tenure included spells at West Ham, Tottenham, Portsmouth, Bournemouth, Rangers and Sunderland, where he eventually retired in 2022.
It is unclear whether the 43-year-old will continue pursuing a career in management.