Byrne was brought to Forest Green in 2004 by former boss Alan Lewer

Ex-Forest Green goalkeeping coach Mick Byrne has claimed his exit is the first of several changes at the New Lawn.

Byrne says he was dismissed by manager Dave Hockaday after the FA Cup fourth qualifying round win over Maidenhead.

"The manager spoke to me for a couple of minutes after the game on Saturday evening, the discussion was a bit of a shock," Byrne told BBC Gloucestershire.

"He described some changes that were being made in the club and there was no place for me in that re-shuffle."

Further details of future changes are yet to be announced after a board meeting on Monday evening, but the first move has proved unpopular with some sections of the Forest Green supporters and rumours had been spreading on fans forums that Byrne was not paid for his work with the club.

Setting the record straight, Byrne confirmed that he was paid by the club for his work on a part-time consultancy basis, combining his duties with initially being in the Royal Air Force and more recently delivering FA coaching programmes elsewhere.

Yet despite his sudden exit, Byrne is keen to play down any acrimony between himself and the club.

"Everything's a bit raw at the moment, I don't have any animosity towards anyone at the club, whether it be management, players, coaches, board of directors, chairman, anybody," he said.

"My first and foremost love is Forest Green so I want them to do as well as possible and I certainly hope that they turn things round."

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