Troy Deeney has been sacked by Forest Green after just six games in charge.
The former Watford striker was only appointed head coach of the League Two side on December 20.
But Deeney failed to guide the club to a win in his six games in charge, leaving the club bottom of League Two and seven points from safety.
He was suspended on Thursday, just hours after Forest Green Rovers owner Dale Vince criticized Deeney’s tough approach to the League Two strugglers, claiming the former Watford star has made ‘a mistake’.
In a statement on the club’s website, Vince wrote: ‘These are decisions that no one likes to make, but we have acted in this way to give FGR the best possible chance to improve results and rise in the rankings. We wish Troy all the best for the future and thank him for his efforts.’
Troy Deeney has been sacked as manager of Forest Green Rovers after just six games
Dale Vince admitted he thought his manager Troy Deeney had made a mistake with his tough love with his Forest Green Rovers side
The League Two strugglers are at risk of leaving the Football League at the end of this season
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The club added that the search for a replacement will begin immediately and that Dan Connor will be in charge of the team’s match with Gillingham on Saturday.
Deeney made headlines after trashing his side on a number of occasions, claiming there were ‘too many babies’ in the team, and also insisting he needed reinforcements in January.
Since pulling up his boots in December, the 35-year-old has not had the smoothest transition into management of a side struggling to stay in the Football League, drawing three and losing three under his leadership .
Deeney himself revealed that he was on the receiving end of vile racist abuse in the aftermath of his tirade, sharing an abhorrent message sent to him via social media.
Owner Vince spoke to Mail Sport at Wembley as part of the second year of the Green Football Weekend, where he took part in a ‘Ready Veggie Cook-off’ challenge with Joe Cole, Robbie Savage and Levi Roots.
However, Vince spoke about his side’s recent poor form in League Two and confirmed he will speak to Deeney about his harsh words for the side.
“I think it was a mistake,” Vince said. “I know he’s apologized for it, so I think he sees that. I think it was wrong to talk to the players that way. Some of the things he said were just wrong, they were harsh, they were wrong.
‘I don’t think this is the way to coach people, to bring a team of people together. I think it was probably caused by emotion. He was frustrated at the end of that game, but we’re all human and things happen.
‘I haven’t had a chance to talk to him yet, but I will.
“Those things can go either way; it may be a shock and a shock, but I think there is a danger that it could go the other way and players will actually resent what is being said to them because it is being said in public, and I think that’s where the mistake is.
‘By all means, talk to the players in clear terms, but to say it in public is something else. It can go in the wrong direction and if you say it in private, managers can lose the dressing room by being too bold for too long, at least that’s how I understand it.’
On Saturday, Forest Green lost 2-0 at home to Harrogate Town, with Jack Muldoon and Abraham Odoh scoring two goals in the second half, as the home side were booed off the pitch at The New Lawn Stadium.
After the match, Deeney slammed his players in the press as he laid bare his desire to make changes to his squad.
“I tried to wrap my head around it, but the sledgehammers are going to have to come out and there are going to be a lot of people who aren’t going to like it,” he said. ‘It doesn’t really matter to me.
“Right now there are too many babies, top to bottom.”
When asked about his assessment of the game, he added: ‘Probably the same as everyone else. A lot of nonsense.
Deeney was a player-coach at the club before taking on the role of manager in December
Deeney also described some of his players as ‘babies’ as he joined the League Two strugglers
Forest Green owner Vince suggested there could be revenues and additions in January
‘A group of people doing their own thing, hiding, being afraid. I don’t understand why they are afraid. They should be used to losing, based on what I’ve seen over the last 18 months, two years.”
Vince agreed that the on-pitch performance had not been good enough, while hinting at the possibility of additions and changes this month in the January transfer window.
‘On the field!’ he said, when asked where improvement was needed. ‘I know everyone has done their best, but this season you have to say that is not good enough.
“We’re in January, so we’ll be able to make changes. We are in another relegation battle. No one wants to be here, but this is where we are!’