Northeast decides time is right for change at Pompey Ladies

But he insists it is business as usual for everyone at the club as they chase a victory against Cardiff at home on Sunday.

The manager, his staff, the club board, the players and the fans have been on an epic journey together for the past three years.

That has included winning the FA Premier League southern division league title and the agony of being denied a place in the Super League by Sheffield in the first-ever play-off for promotion to that level.

Northeast kept the club in the title race this season as they produced a brave and strong defence of their crown before ultimately losing out to Brighton.

Now the Blues boss has decided the time is right to leave this summer.

He said: ‘Jurgen Klopp is to blame for my decision.

‘There is a great press conference with him when he left Dortmund.

‘It was a bit of a shock to Dortmund, I don’t think anyone was expecting it.

‘But he just said, “the club is great, sometimes something needs to change” and for him, he felt that person was him.

‘It’s just time, I think. It’s my last game on Sunday but it changes nothing this week in training at all.

‘We will train in the manner that we have to win on Sunday.

‘It has to be that way, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

‘We want to go out there and it is not about emotion, it is not about last games, it is about winning a single game of football.

‘I’ve not been in this situation before but I think I know the players all well enough now to know they will be training to obtain a place in the starting line-up on Sunday.

‘They are just going to train how they always do and that is how I shall approach the week as well.’

The Blues beat Forest Green Rovers 3-0 on Sunday.

Goals from Emma Sherwood, Sarah Kempson and Gemma Hillier arrived in the first 25 minutes and only after the match it was revealed later that Northeast would be leaving.

He added: ‘It was announced before the final game against Cardiff to be open, honest and clear.

‘I was never at the point of the decision before the weekend.

‘We played some great football against Forest Green, definitely in the first half.

‘Now the task is to beat Cardiff on Sunday.’

It promises to be a good match with the Welsh side third and still hoping to finish above Charlton to take the runners-up spot.