MIKE Watkins last night resigned as forwards coach of struggling Welsh Premier Division club Newbridge - less than a fortnight after the club sacked backs coach Jonathan Westwood.

Watkins said club officials had put him in an impossible position after he accidentally overheard strong personal criticism of himself.

The club also refused a meeting between him and the management committee to discuss the coaching situation and future plans while club chairman Idris McCarthy was abroad.

"All I wanted was a meeting to know where I stood and what the club's plans were but I was told I couldn't have one and to carry on coaching," said Watkins, at the helm at the Welfare Ground with Westwood for four and a half years.

"I would like to have carried on had I been able to sit down and talk to people about the future, surely a common sense thing to do, but by saying no I was put in an impossible situation.

"How can I stand up and talk to players about the future if I am not told about these things myself?"

The former Newport and Wales skipper, 53 this week, added: "After speaking to a club official I put the phone down and when picked it back up to telephone someone else, the line was still open and I overheard committee members slagging me off in a dreadful manner.

"So whether I had made my mind up to carry on as Newbridge coach or not, that made my mind up for me. "When you have given everything you've got and are slagged off in such a way, it is not acceptable.

"I am more than sad because it was more than just a coaching job to me. Jonathan and I have given everything we possibly could and I can look anyone at Newbridge in the eye.

"People don't realise the sleepless nights we've had. My business (industrial supplies) has suffered because Newbridge took over my time more and more.

"If there is a right way and a wrong way to go about these things, Newbridge have done it the wrong way.

"They have gone back to where they were, pulling in all directions instead of in the same direction."

Newbridge now have to find a new coaching team quickly and, due to loyalty to the coaches, may have to find some new players too. They are bottom but one in the table and it is looking increasingly likely they will drop into Division One, though Watkins said: "I have absolutely no doubt that with the players we've got we would have got ourselves out of the situation."

Watkins (pictured) refused to rule out a return to a forwards coach's role if the right opportunity came along, but said: "Now perhaps I will go and watch a bit of rugby, maybe even go and have a look at the Newport Gwent Dragons."