Former St George’s Colts player and coach Noel “Sub” Smith has revealed his dismay at the club’s decision to sack Jarreau Hayward.

Despite having led St George’s to their first-ever FA Cup title, club officials cited poor league form as the reason behind deciding not to extend head coach Hayward’s contract after reviewing the team’s performance in the Premier Division last season.

Reflecting the views of many in the East End community, Smith is shocked at the decision to remove Hayward.

“I was flabbergasted, and it’s not just me, but most of us who came up through the ranks,” Smith told The Royal Gazette.

“‘I don't know where this bombshell came from and was surprised that they changed the coach.

“I don't agree with it. This is definitely not a good thing and I don't think the timing was ideal.”

Smith had high expectations for St George’s in the coming season after their historic FA Cup success but now fears the controversial removal of Hayward could potentially hinder progress.

“I thought the future was definitely bright after winning the FA Cup,” Smith said. “I was proud and happy with the team's success and thought we had really turned everything around.

“The guy [Hayward] was in place to continue and now if we have a bad season next season, all of this has just thrown everything apart.

“We got a big following by winning the FA Cup and most of these guys don't actually realise what they have done. They have pulled all the St George's people together and now to have to go through this is terrible.”

It is understood that St George’s midfielder Drewonde Bascome is lined up to replace Hayward as head coac,h but club president Mishael Paynter has declined to comment further.

Bascome played his part in St George’s FA Cup success, scoring in a 2-0 quarter-final win over 11-times champions PHC and he also featured in the 4-0 thrashing of North Village in the final.

“We have to be careful as far as who they are looking for, what they are looking for,” Smith said. “We have to be careful how we approach the season coming up.”

The St George’s president said this week the decision to replace Hayward was done in the club’s “best interest”.

“After discussions with our football support staff, players, Jarreau and an analysis of our first team’s win percentage [36 per cent] in the Premier Division under his leadership, we decided it was in our best interest to change the head coach,” Paynter said.

“In conjunction with this, our team was languishing in a relegation battle last season and we asked Herbie Bascome to assist and have oversight over our senior men’s team. After that we ended up finishing in sixth and won the FA Cup.

“Taking all of this into consideration, we decided to look elsewhere.”

Hayward expressed his disappointment over losing his job.

“I am disappointed not to have my contract renewed at St George’s, to say the least,” he said.

“I was told my winning percentage was not good enough, a winning percentage of a team I inherited while third bottom in the First Division.”

Hayward rebutted Paynter’s claims about how Bascome became involved with the team, which he considers as an attempt to “discredit” his hard work, and cited injuries to key players as a major contributing factor to St George’s league struggles last season.

“This last season we were hit by the injury bug hard with our two leading goalscorers, Blaiz Hall and Jonté Smith, out for half the season and two of our best midfielders, Malachi Trott and Cameron Neal, out for the whole season,” he said. “I know these blows to our foundation were not taken into consideration.”

Hayward has been offered an opportunity in the junior programme.