The decision came as a shock as Kinniburgh had led Corby to the play-off final in his first full season in the job and was also heading the club’s academy.

Assistant-manager Ashley Robinson and experienced defender Gary Mulligan will step in as joint-managers on an interim basis with striker Elliot Sandy as their assistant.

Mulligan told https://www.corbytown.co.uk: “I am looking forward to the challenge ahead! We have got a great squad with 90% of last year's squad.

“With two or three more additions we should have a great chance of being at the top come May!”

The news comes after it was revealed that four new players had put pen-to-paper for the Steelmen.

Goalkeeper Josh Carpenter and defender Curtis Hartley both return to Steel Park for second spells.

Carpenter re-joins having last played for the club in the Southern League Premier Division in 2014.

He was then mainly used as an understudy to Paul Walker.

After leaving Corby, he headed stateside to study at the William Carey University in Mississippi.

While in the USA, he was part of the team who won the 2018 SSAC Men’s Soccer Championship and was named in the team of the tournament.

Hartley last played for the Steelmen in 2015, having been a big part of the youth team who finished runners-up in the 2014/15 season and Northants Senior Youth League KO Cup winners and was also part of the squad that won the Southern League.

He left Corby to join Daventry Town, and has also played for Harborough Town, Eynesbury Rovers and Stamford AFC.

New to Steel Park are Joe Burgess and Jake Duffy.

Burgess has played for the likes of Boston United, Ilkeston, Histon, Fleetwood Town and Peterborough United.

He is comfortable playing in midfield or attack and finished last season as the top scorer for Evo-Stik Northern Premier League Division One South East side Stamford AFC with 11 goals and also picked up the managers` player of the year award.

Duffy also joins from Stamford having spent three seasons at the Zeeco Stadium.

He previously played for Holbeach United and Oadby Town in the United Counties League.