BRIGHTLINGSEA Regent manager Tom Rothery is turning his back on social media and admits it was beginning to affect his mental wellbeing.

The R’s chief found himself embroiled in a Twitter spat on Saturday night and promptly deactivated his account on Monday morning.

In an open and honest interview, he says he already feels liberated and has vowed never to go back.

“I’ve never really been a fan of social media,” said Rothery.

“I’ve never had a Facebook account and now I’ve decided to come off Twitter.

“There are too many keyboard warriors who just want to get a reaction from you.

“I had a bit of a disagreement on there over the weekend - all I did was tweet something about VAR and the standard of officiating in non-league - and just thought ‘what am I doing?’

“It wasn’t making me happy and haven’t enjoyed it for a long while.

“In fact, it was really beginning to affect my mental health and well-being, because I was worrying so much about what people were saying.

“I could feel myself feeling wound-up and anxious, almost having palpitations at times.

“There are too many people on there who just want to stir things up, pushing and prodding until they get a reaction.

“I’m the type of person who finds it hard not to bite, because I’ll always defend myself, and that’s why I had to deactivate my account.

“I’m a private person and social media allows people into your life too much.

“It gives them a snapshot of who you are when actually that’s not what I want.

“I only want certain people in my inner circle and that’s why I knew I needed to come off Twitter

“I want to get my life back a bit and feel better already.”

Rothery felt he was spending too much time on Twitter.

He believes it can be a useful tool for spreading and gleaning information but believes the time was right to step away.

“I was spending far too much time on my phone, scrolling and scrolling, trying to keep up with all the non-league news,” said the Regent boss, whose BetVictor Isthmian League premier division side drew 0-0 at home to Merstham on Saturday.

“It’s not right and it’s not healthy.

“There are far more important things in life and I needed to have a word with myself, to get my priorities straight.

“The job of being a non-league manager is hard enough, without having to worry about something like that, and already feel a weight has been lifted from my shoulders.

“I feel liberated and definitely won’t go back to Twitter.”

Regent are away to Haringey Borough on Saturday and host Hornchurch on Monday.