Gavin Dykes has stated that his decision to step down as manager of Ballinamallard United was done with the club’s best interests at heart.
The Mallards have been rooted to the foot of the table all season and Saturday’s poor performance in the 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Ards at Ferney Park left Dykes believing that if the club are to have any chance of staying in the Premiership then a new voice was needed in an attempt to get a bounce over the final eight games of the campaign.
“I will always put the club first, especially one like Ballinamallard because the people here are fantastic,” said Dykes. 
“I just felt on reflection that it needed a new voice. 
“I think there is still a chance that they will stay up, there is eight games to go and I think the squad is good enough but for whatever reason it hasn’t happened. Saturday was a low ebb for me personally and for the players but hopefully they will get a reaction by somebody else coming in and get a bounce. There are still eight games left so there is a lot of football to be played yet.”
Dykes says he has tried everything to get the Mallards season kick started but he knew on Saturday that his time had come to an end.
“I have worked night and day to get it to where I wanted it to be but for one reason or another it hasn’t happened. 
“I just felt on Saturday that it was time for me to go, I didn’t get a reaction from the players and once they scored we folded. It’s up to the players now, they are good enough and at the end of the day they are the only ones who can kick start it,” he added.
Dykes took over from Whitey Anderson and his first game in charge was a relegation play off against Institute and the club were ten seconds away from the drop before a goal deep in injury time saved them.
He then put a poor start to last season behind him to steer the club to comfortable safety but this year things never really got going.
A busy January window saw six new players arrive and form did begin to turn but in recent weeks performances have slipped again leaving the manager feeling that the best thing for everybody concerned was for him to resign. Dykes though has enjoyed his two year spell at Ferney Park and retains a close bond to the club.
“I absolutely loved my time at Ballinamallard, it is a special club. I have made great friends at the club and they are a good bunch of people to work with. There is a good squad of players there but for one reason or another we haven’t been able to get the best out of them, however, I really hope whoever comes in will get a reaction for them.
“It was a very enjoyable time for me and it is sad to see it come to an end but I will be a regular visitor to Ferney Park and hopefully that will be in the Premiership next year,” he stated.