Harper says the fans helped make up his mind to stay

Kettering Town player-manager Lee Harper has withdrawn his threat to resign following the sacking of his assistant John Deehan.

Harper was left fuming at the dismissal of Deehan immediately after the Poppies' extra-time defeat at Leeds in Tuesday's FA Cup second round replay.

But Harper told BBC Radio Northampton: "I'm more-or-less certain I want to stay at the football club.

"The feedback I've had from the fans has just been phenomenal."

He added: "I never wanted to leave. But my assistant was sacked and I felt that was unjust."

Kettering chairman Imraan Ladak admitted he was "amazed" by the fans' negative reaction to his sacking of Deehan over substitutions made in the latter stages of the cup tie at Elland Road.

606: DEBATE Give your reaction to Lee Harper's decision to stay

But Harper denies there is a problem with Ladak interfering in on-the-field matters.

"It's me picking the team so there's no issue with that," said Harper.

"The issue is why my assistant was sacked. We're going to go into that and who's going to replace him."

Kettering will look to regroup at home to Barrow in the first round of the FA Trophy on Saturday (1500 GMT).

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