BANGOR City director of football Stephen Vaughan Junior has spoken of his shock at the departure of manager Craig Harrison.

The Huws Gray Alliance side were left reeling by Harrison’s decision to join Connah’s Quay Nomads as a first team coach on the even of their JD Welsh Cup win over Mold Alexandra, and Vaughan Junior stated his was left “gobsmacked” by the news on Friday.

Speaking to The Casual Citizen podcast, Vaughan Jnr said: “I was gobsmacked. He (Harrison) sent me a message on Thursday asking to meet up on the Friday, but I didn’t foresee that and I said that to him, but if people do not want to be here then we cannot make them.

“Nobody is bigger than the club and at the end of the day we have got a massive budget for the division we are in and have underachieved.

“It is up to others to determine whose fault it is, but he had nine games in charge and he has just left us. It’s hard for me to say no to the move because it’s clear he didn’t want to be here.”

Vaugahn Jnr added that he has already received a significant amount of interest regarding the vacant managerial position, but the board will take their time with the decision to ensure they put the right man at the helm following the last few months of uncertainty.

“In the Welsh pyramid system who wouldn’t want to play for or manage Bangor City?” he added.

“We have had five or six people who have put themselves forward and I would expect number to rise, but we have got to pick the right one as we have had six managers in two years. This is why we gave Craig a two-year deal as he said he was here for the long haul but he walked away to go to Connah’s Quay which I don’t understand.

“We have had a bit of a shock with the division and we have got Welsh Premier League players, so we have to find someone who can galvanise the group and get the very best out of them.

“Whoever comes in has got a very good group of players to work with and I imagine a fair few would want the job.”