Dafter and Gary Heywood joined with 5 games left of last season and won every game, taking the Millers up to second and in the play-offs, falling short in the play-off semi-final losing out to Heybridge Swifts.

Aveley started this season with a 2-2 draw away at Dereham Town and a 0-0 draw at home to Hullbridge Sports.

Both Dafter and his assistant Haywood have relinquished their positions at the club.

Dafter (pictured) told the club`s website: “Myself and Gary have decided to call it a day at Aveley. We spoke yesterday and decided that we didn’t have the enthusiasm and passion to carry on doing it. We never intended to get back into football but when we agreed to take it on last season, in hindsight we shouldn’t then have agreed to take the job on for the season.”

Chief Executive Craig Johnson said: “The timing of this couldn’t be worse for the football club with an FA Cup tie in less than 48 hours time.”

The club would now like to invite interested applicants for the vacant management position. Interested parties should contact Craig Johnson on 07946 438540.