Warburton’s gone from hero to zero

MARK WARBURTON was yesterday sacked as manager of Nottingham Forest after less than nine months in charge at the City Ground.

Forest, 14th in the Championship, were booed off for the second time in five days on Saturday after Sunderland got the better of them.

It followed Forest’s home defeat by Sheffield Wednesday on Boxing Day.

Warburton saved the club from relegation last season but a festive slump that left Forest with just one win from their last seven games prompted owner Evangelos Marinakis to act.

Warburton’s assistant David Weir has also departed and Forest confirmed that director of football Frank McParland had left too.

Warburton said in a statement via the League Managers’

NOTTM FOREST

Association: “David Weir and I are extremely disappointed to be leaving Nottingham Forest, a club we were proud to represent.

“The team have made significant progress since avoiding relegation at the end of last season and we look forward to seeing this young squad continue to improve.”

Warburton arrived in March and steered Forest to Championship survival in dramatic fashion on the final day of last season.

He made seven summer signings including striker Daryl Murphy, midfielder Liam Bridcutt and on-loan Everton youngster Kieran Dowell. Warburton did retain the confidence of the squad and after this defeat, and before Warburton’s sacking, Forest goalkeeper Jordan Smith said the players had let him down.

“The last two games have been totally unacceptable from us as a squad,” said Smith.

“We should be beating these teams and making this ground a fortress.

“We can’t justify these two performances in any way and it’s completely down to us to get out of the hole.

“We’ve got to take a long, hard look at ourselves and do it very quickly.”

Academy manager Gary Brazil will take caretaker charge for today’s visit to Leeds but Marinakis is hoping to name Warburton’s replacement within days.

Garry Monk and Aitor Karanka are among the contenders to take over.