AN "absolutely gutted" Niall McGuinness had "no doubt" that he would have kept Flint Town United in the top-flight.

McGuinness saw his three-year tenure as manager of the Silkmen come to an end on Sunday following a 6-3 defeat at Barry Town United.

A statement from Flint chairman Darryl Williams confirmed: “It is with enormous regret that we have today decided to part ways with our manager Niall McGuinness.

"This was an incredibly difficult decision on my part, as I regard Niall as a personal friend, and I’m incredibly grateful for all he’s done whilst he’s been here over the last three years.

"During that time, we have lifted the League Cup for the first time in our history and of course he guided us back into the top tier of Welsh football after an absence of 22 years.

"The club has undergone a huge transformation in the last five years or so, and Niall played a large part in that.

"However, as we all know, football is a results business and at the end of the day, it is vital for the club that, having strived so hard to make it into the Cymru Premier, we do our utmost to stay there.

"So, with that in mind, and based upon our current league position and form, it was decided a change of management would be required.

"All at Flint Town United wish Niall the very best in the future and sincerely thank him for his contribution to the club."

McGuinness leaves the Essity Stadium with Flint in the relegation zone, but only a point adrift of safety with 18 games of the season remaining.

But with games at Penybont and home against Cefn Druids and Aberystwyth to come before Christmas - as well as six of the final eight matches before the split being at the Essity Stadium - McGuinness felt it was only a matter of time before Flint were climbing the table.

"I genuinely believe we would have won at least two of the next three matches," said McGuinness. "And there's no doubt in my mind that at the end of 32 matches I would have kept the club in the Cymru Premier.

"It's a hard pill to swallow because the next run of games were great chances to turn the season around after a difficult run of away games against teams at the top end of the table.

"Having done the hard work the next few matches were ones we were looking forward to as a group.

"We were only a point from safety and only 14 matches had been played."

Asked to sum up his time in charge of Flint, who he led to the Cymru North League Cup and successive second placed finishes, the latest earning the club a place at the top table for the first time in 22 years, McGuinness was rightly proud of his achievements.

"It's been a great three years," said McGuinness. "I loved working with the lads we have at the club.

"We've won the League Cup and got promotion after a second runners-up finish, and it was great to take the club up."

With McGuinness gone, Neil Gibson is the name in the frame to take control, Flint's statement adding: "We have asked his assistants Aden Shannon and Johnny Hill to remain in their roles.

"An announcement regarding the new first team manager is expected to be made in the very near future.”