Former England striker Jermain Defoe has exited his managerial role at Woking FC after just four months, describing the experience as an "eye-opening" journey. Defoe, who took over from Neal Ardley in March, managed only six league games, winning two and finishing the season in 10th place.

On Thursday, Woking announced the mutual decision to part ways with Defoe, occurring just two weeks before the new season opener against Sutton United. In an Instagram post, Defoe expressed his pride in the work done at the club, stating, "Unfortunately, circumstances have ultimately made it impossible for me to continue in the position."

His tenure included a final match, a 1-0 defeat against Braintree Town during pre-season. Defoe, who scored 305 goals in 763 senior appearances for clubs like West Ham, Tottenham, Portsmouth, and Sunderland, transitioned to management after retiring in 2022.

Having previously worked with the interim coaching staff at Rangers and in the Spurs academy, Defoe had shown promise in his coaching abilities, winning fans over with his arrival and the squad he helped assemble.

Despite his excitement for the upcoming season just days prior, this sudden departure raises questions about off-field issues, especially given the lack of acknowledgment for director of football Jody Brown in Defoe's farewell message. With Defoe's managerial aspirations now uncertain, Woking faces a challenging search for a new head coach.