Last Wednesday he resigned from the position he’s held since 1997. Watkins said he was forced to resign.

Ralph Capps, President of the Wake County Boys & Girls Club, which oversees the Zebulon club, would not say why Watkins resigned, calling it a personnel matter.

But a member of the Zebulon club’s advisory board said there had been concerns voiced by members of the staff about Watkins’ day-to-day management of the club.

Michael Weeks, chairman of the Zebulon Advisory Board, told the board Thursday night of Watkins’ resignation.

But he said he didn’t know why Watkins resigned. “I received an e-mail this morning from Mr. Capps informing me that he had resigned effective immediately,” Weeks said.

John Hanlon, another member of the board, said he was aware of the concerns raised by staff members and that those concerns were likely what led to Watkins’ ouster.

Reached Thursday morning by telephone, Watkins said his dismissal came as a surprise.

“I wasn’t expecting anything like this," he said. "They didn’t really give me a reason. Mr. Capps just said they wanted to go in a different direction,” Watkins said.

Capps called Watkins resignation painful.

“Lamont grew up in the Boys & Girls Club. He was a member of the Raleigh club when I was the director there. He will always be a special part of the Boys & Girls Club."

Karl Thoma was named interim director of the Zebulon club. He will hold the position until August when Capps will decide whether to make his promotion permanent.

The decision related to Watkins came as a surprise to many of the club members and their parents.

Watkins said he had fielded a steady stream of calls from parents wanting to know why he was dismissed.

Capps said an announcement was made to the children at the club when Watkins submitted his resignation, but he said there are no plans to explain the decision to parents.

Capps also said he was comfortable with not telling members of the advisory board in Zebulon why he made the decision.

“That board is really just an advisory board, sort of a support group. … We will make sure the program moves forward and that the services continue to grow,” Capps said.

Weeks, too, said he was comfortable being left out of the decision-making loop.

“Our role is to serve as liaison between the club and the community... But staff issues are handled by the staff. Our role is to work with whoever is here,” Weeks said. “I have every confidence they dealt with it appropriately.”