Outgoing Dandy Town coach Andrew Bascome has insisted he will not reconsider his decision to retire.

Speaking publicly for the first time about the struggles he has had to endure, first as an orphan and then as a Rastafarian, the former national team and North Village star says he's had enough with club football.

Growing up in the Sunshine League, Bascome says his early life was tough and then as a player he had to overcome the odds to make a comeback after suffering a career-threatening knee injury.

As a coach, he says, it didn't get any easier and despite enjoying success, he often felt he had to repeatedly prove his worth.

Bascome still believes his religious preferences have influenced the way others have perceived him.

Now, he says, enough is enough and "the charity work is over."

"I was never guaranteed all the benefits other coaches received for being successful," he said following his team's FA Cup final loss to North Village last week.

"Was it because of my dreadlocks? I am a Rastaman, and I will always be that, so I know that fight will always be there and I am not prepared to fight that any more. I just want to live."

While Bascome says he is sticking to his guns over retirement, he added: "I don't know what can make me come back, but I don't see it happening in the future, other than coaching my son, because it's just been like a fight to prove myself all of the time. There's no way that I will be coming back."

He also noted how, despite his success as a player and coach, there always remained a minority, who he refers to as "a higher authority", who believed he was sending the wrong message because of his Rastafarian beliefs.

"That's how I feel, it's been my entire career, it's been an ongoing struggle," he said.

"Let Andrew draw the players to the club. Let Andrew motivate the players. No! Andrew has done his share. I never received the same benefits as other coaches did. The charity work is over. It is no longer all about this loyalty business."

After finishing his career on a losing note last weekend, the veteran said he had really wanted his players to win it for themselves and for the players who were nearing the end of their careers, and not for the coach.

"After all was said and done, I took a look back at the season and I thought that what we got out of it was an accomplishment in itself," he added.

"To come second considering all that we went through - not being able to select players for some reason or the other and some players' lack of training commitment - it's just been crazy. So when I look back at the FA Cup, then maybe we just got what we deserved. But I don't feel bad about it, I try not to get over emotional about things like this.

"I just wish Dandy Town well. It's been a great experience and I think that I have done my part and fulfilled my role in local soccer, and I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate Village on their double success. It was a great display of soccer."