Relegation threatened Notts County have sacked manager Shaun Derry after 17 months in charge.
County sit one place above the drop-zone with only the benefit of a better goal difference than Crewe keeping them afloat. A chronic drop in form has seen them record three wins in 24 matches since November and the 4-1 defeat to MK Dons at the weekend was the final straw for the 37 year-old and his assistant boss, Greg Abbott.
Named manager in November 2013, Derry steered the club from the bottom of the League 1 table to 20th, three points clear of safety.
Chief Executive Aileen Trew said, “this is without doubt one of the hardest decisions that we have had to make.”
She added: “We know how much this club means to Shaun and Greg and we know how much hard work they had both put in during their time here.
“However, we have to make the decisions that we feel are in the best interests of the club and our perilous position in the table meant that we felt we needed to make a change.”
“I have nothing but positive things to say about Shaun and Greg and the way that they conducted themselves.
“It is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to them, but with a hope that this difficult decision will be the catalyst for a turn around in fortunes,” Trew said.
The decision comes less than a week since ex-Chief Executive Jim Rodwell left Meadow Lane for the same role at Scunthorpe United, with Trew – wife of Notts County Chairman Ray Trew – moving quickly in hope of ensuring the club's League 1 status.
