Steve Bull has launched an angry attack on the Stafford Rangers board who told him his managerial reign was over.

Crisis-hit Rangers told the Wolves legend he was not  wanted because they could not afford to pay him any longer.

It’s the latest in a series of dramatic responses from the Marston Road chairman Jon Downing and his directors fighting to keep the club afloat amid a crippling financial crisis.

But it left Bull visibly shocked and distraught – and drew an angry response from the legendary goal-scorer, who was 10 months into his first managerial posting with Rangers.

He said: “I am absolutely gutted. I feel a mixture of emotions – from sadness to anger.

“Sadness for the way the players, the fans and the shareholders as well as myself have been, and still are being, treated by this Board and an anger towards the directors who think they can treat people in this way and who point the finger of blame at anyone and everyone apart from themselves.

“Maybe with the benefit of hindsight, I should have come out and said something sooner and not put up with the broken promises and late payments of moneys due to me and the players.

“But I’ve never been motivated solely by money and I really did want to stick around to help the club as best I could.  Now I have been released from my shackles, however, I think it’s time to speak out in an effort to try to save this Club from going into oblivion.”

Bull reckons a slashed playing budget meant he was asked to secure a mid-table position for the season but he was then shocked to find Rangers directors demanding high achievement.

He added: “With such a mandate, I’m not quite sure why they expected over a thousand fans a week through the turnstiles.

“I don’t want to jump ship as I believe this Club could go places.”