County League Division One side Three Bridges will unveil their new manager this weekend.

Chairman Alan Bell has confirmed a swift appointment has been made following the resignation of Micky Taylor last Saturday.

There are strong rumours that Sammy Donnelly, currently in charge at Southwick, could be taking over.

Bell has refused to comment except to say that one of three names mentioned on the local grapevine this week was Donnelly.

Bell said: "We know who is taking over but there are things they have got to do.

"An appointment has been made. We are in shape. The first people to know have got to be our players, our managers and our board.

"There is a time factor to get everybody together. That will be done by Saturday evening."

Former Worthing boss Donnelly said: "There are always rumours with me. I will be in charge of Southwick on Saturday like I have been all season and I will take things as they come."

Bridges have called off tomorrow's match away to Burgess Hill because of the turmoil caused by the sudden resignation of Taylor and his assistant Chick Bain.

It was feared that 17 players had followed them out of the club although Bell insists he is only aware of the departure of midfielder Seb Favata who has joined Whyteleafe.

There was confusion earlier this week when Bell denied Taylor had resigned while a fellow committee member confirmed the news.

Yesterday, Bell said Taylor had left because he was not prepared to take on a new role as director of football. The club had offered him the job because they were concerned about the health of Taylor who has a heart condition.

Bell said: "Micky Taylor and Chick Bain have worked extremely hard this year. They were wanted at the club next year but with Micky's illness there were concerns.

"I am not a doctor but when I am told there is heart surgery imminent then it is a major concern. We looked for an alternative position we could offer Micky to take the stress out of his daily football life."

Taylor is bitterly upset about the situation, insisting that he or his doctor should be making decisions about his health and not the club.

He said: "I had a meeting with the chairman last Thursday which was to discuss next season. What was said to me wasn't acceptable. That is in respect of the club making a decision about my health.

"I was told they were going to appoint a joint manager to work alongside Chick.

"If I wanted to be a football director, with no respect to Three Bridges, I could have gone to Dulwich Hamlet, but I am a football manager."

Taylor said his health was not a problem and his record at the Jubilee Field stood up well.

He said: "I suffer from attacks to do with my heart which are not life threatening but are inconvenient.

"After talks with Chick on Friday we came to the conclusion that it was an excuse to get rid of us.

"I quite expected to carry on next season. Although we haven't got any silverware we did quite well in the FA Cup financially, getting the club £9,000.

"We were lying ninth and were targeting fifth. I would have said that wasn't a bad first season."