Alan Thorne, who as joint-manager has helped take Thame United to the brink of the Ryman League Premier Division, has been sacked in a shock move.

The runaway Division 1 leaders have stunned the local non-League scene by giving Thorne the bullet over a disciplinary issue.

Thame have acted following an incident during their 1-0 win over local rivals Aylesbury United at Windmill Stadium a week ago.

Thorne, who was serving a two-match touchline ban for something he said to a referee earlier this season, allegedly made comments from the stand towards former Thame striker Jefferson Louis, who was playing for the Ducks.

This incensed visiting Aylesbury officials seated nearby and it's understood Thorne became involved in a row with them.

In a statement, Thame chairman Jim Tite said: "The football club wish to confirm that due to a disciplinary matter, joint-manager Alan Thorne has been relieved of his duties at the club.

"This is an internal matter and has been dealt with accordingly.

"It should be pointed out, though, that during his three-year tenure at Windmill Road, Alan has assisted Andy Sinnott in leading the team from the lows of Division 2 to their present position as the top of Division 1 and on the fringe of Premier League football next season.

He has been instrumental in helping to attract quality players to the club, assisting with coaching and ensuring the progress off the field has been more than matched on it.

Thorne feels that the incident didn't warrant a sacking.

He said he shouted out at Louis after the Aylesbury forward had made what he claimed was a reckless challenge on Greg Williams.

"The comments I made were ones that I would have made to any player in that situation," he said.

Thorne also feels that he has been sacrificed by Thame to safeguard an agreement the club have with Aylesbury to ground share, should they temporarily find themselves without a ground in between moving from Windmill Stadium to a proposed site on the edge of the town.

Thorne, who revealed that he had already been offered another job in Division 1, added: "I am down about it because I felt I worked very hard for Thame.

"They will definitely go into the Premier and a large part of that is down to me. I am not taking all the credit because Andy and Pete (Lamont) do a good job as well.

"I feel very upset about not being able to go into the Premier with Thame.

"I feel there is an agreement between the two clubs that they want to keep. Aylesbury wanted me sacked and if I wasn't, Thame wouldn't be able to use the ground. I feel very bitter about it."

Tite said: "If one ground has gone and the other ground is not ready we have an agreement to ground share with Aylesbury."

Sinnott said: "I want to thank Alan Thorne for all the help he has given me and the football club over the last two years.

"We have had two fabulous years together and it is sad it has come to an end."