I was hoping for a mundane summer but those hopes lasted just three weeks.

Instead of a few months of quiet rebuilding and carrying forward the positivity that came at the end of last season, Braintree Town, their fans and this journalist covering the club head collectively into another spell of uncertainty.

Following Danny Searle's rather surprising departure, this will be the fourth summer in the last five that the Iron have had to spend at least part of the closed season concerning themselves with looking for a new manager.

The last thing on the wanted list after being relegated at the end of last season.

It was Searle who was at the helm when the drop was confirmed in March and the 19 points gained from his 16 games in charge ultimately proved too few to keep the team in the Vanarama National League in the final reckoning at the end of April.

But, despite the inevitable gloom of relegation, there was a definite feeling of positivity looking forward and that's why Searle's decision to leave is hitting so hard.

Less than 24 hours after quitting Braintree, he was unveiled as the new Aldershot boss, but just a few weeks before, Danny had stood in front of a packed Braintree fans' forum and talked passionately about taking the club forward.

Those in attendance that night came away enthused that, although they knew they would be heading back into the second tier of non-league football, they had a manager who was saying the things they wanted and needed to hear.

So what went wrong?

Is it fair to blame the club for a perceived lack of ambition or say that the Iron's board is culpable for somehow allowing an up and coming manager to slip through their fingers?

I've seen some suggest that is the case on social media, but I personally don't think that's true.

Those in charge of the club were backing Danny, had provided him with what they consider to be a prudent yet competitive National League South (or North) budget and were allowing him free rein to make plans for pre-season and the coming campaign.

In short, doing everything that their fans would have expected of them, so I think it's unfair to suggest culpability on the part of the board or that changes must be made in that regard.

It looks to me that it's more a case of what the club had to offer clearly just wasn't what Danny had in mind.

The club are run - as they have been for well over a decade - on the principle that they spend only what they can afford to avoid going down a rocky road that many other clubs have in the past.

It's hugely disappointing that Danny didn't choose to stay because he must have known the financial situation from the first day he stepped through the door, but as frustrating as it is to see a coach who I - and others - rate so highly, in my mind, the timing of his departure is even more of a blow.

Had Danny left at the end of the season in April or even early May, then Iron's predicament would be less, but with him leaving now, three weeks of the precious summer break have been effectively wasted.

During that time, Danny spent almost a week in Switzerland completing a new UEFA coaching qualification and one would expect - given the rapid nature of his unveiling as the Shots' manager so soon after quitting Braintree - had also been spending time in talks about his next move.

They are three weeks, and by the time the application process is concluded it will very likely be more than a month gone, that could have been used by Iron's next manager to prepare for next season.

Whoever takes the helm next is going to have to hit the ground running.

When Brad Quinton took over in the summer of 2017, he was able to bring players with him from Enfield Town who formed the core of the promotion-winning side in his first season.

Looking at the current situation and with the clock ticking, it may be that the club finds itself in a similar situation this time.

What is certain, though, is that stability is needed now more than anything.

In the past few years, Braintree have sourced some managerial talent that others have coveted and lured away and they need someone prepared to be with them for a block of at least four to five years.

That's what the club's board will undoubtedly be looking for in the list of applicants for their vacant position, but it's easier said than done.

Danny Searle was saying all the right things and indicating he was in it for the long-term just a few weeks ago and is now the Aldershot boss.

Perhaps a modicum of good fortune is required to get that manager whose head won't be turned by other suitors, but find them Braintree must.

A summer of uncertainty is one thing, they can't afford to have a season of turmoil next year.