Peter Thorne will always owe Stuart McCall for keeping him in football.

But the veteran marksman feels equally guilty for not being around more to keep his former boss at the Valley Parade helm.

It was ironic that Thorne, top scorer for the previous two seasons at a rapid rate of a goal every other game, should have the last scoring chance of the manager’s reign.

Because the 36-year-old’s absence for the bulk of the current campaign has been a significant factor in the City slide which prompted McCall to walk away.

Thorne said: “I’m gutted because I’ve tried to come back three times too early. That’s out of pure frustration and it ended up back-firing.

“Then I feel guilty thinking that if I’d waited a bit longer, I could have got back properly. I might have banged in a few goals by now and who knows…”

As McCall’s first signing – he joined the same day as Barry Conlon – Thorne has been hit by the manager’s departure more than anyone.

It was McCall’s enthusiastic approach in 2007 which dragged him out of a rut after a nightmare time at Norwich.

Thorne said: “I was ready to pack it in. Ask anyone at the time. I’d had two terrible years, an operation on my knee and hardly played. I’d fallen out of love with football.

“But the gaffer convinced me to come here and I’ve loved everything about it – the club, the fans, every second.

“He’s such an infectious personality with a great sense of humour. He did me a massive favour and it’s very sad to see him go.

“Out of all the managers I’ve played under, I’ve never known anyone who loved their club as much. He also loved the fans and they loved him. It was a great relationship.”

It has been business as usual where possible this week. Wayne Jacobs, who has taken command until a new man comes in, has been pleased with the attitude within the squad ahead of the Grimsby home clash.

Thorne said: “It’s a very strange place at the moment but obviously Jakes is still here doing a great job and we’ll find out next week what’s going to happen.

“The gaffer was one of those managers who was down at training every day, so for him to not be there now is unusual. But the lads have shown a great attitude and got their heads down working.

“It’s hard because there are a lot of distractions with the situation. You’re being asked every two minutes about what’s going on.

“But you’ve got to be professional, train as hard as we can and make sure everything’s right for the game.

“Monday was a very difficult day. When Stuart came in to say goodbye, you could see how much he was hurting.

“But he’d obviously thought long and hard about it and it just wasn’t meant to be. It’s a real shame.

“At least he can have a bit of time out now. There is a lot of pressure, especially at a club which he loves so much. But everyone still loves him and, in my eyes, he walked away on a high.”