Guillotine falls on Laws and Ferguson

THERE were two managerial casualties in the Championship yesterday as Brian Laws stepped down as the manager of Burnley at the request of chairman Barry Kilby just hours before Preston sacked Darren Ferguson.

Laws future was plunged into doubt following Tuesday’s home defeat at the hands of former club Scunthorpe, with operational director Brendan Flood confirming talks would be held over the 49-year-old’s future.

But the club decided to part company with Laws sooner, confirming yesterday he had been asked to step aside from his post.

Chairman Kilby said on the club’s official website recent results were behind the decision as the Clarets’ attempts to launch a promotion push continue to falter.

Kilby said: “I have telephoned Brian today and have asked him to step down as manager of Burnley Football Club.

“Everyone is naturally disappointed and frustrated that recent results have not gone as we would have hoped.

“The board of directors has therefore decided that we need a fresh approach in order to achieve our goal of returning to the Premier League.”

Laws later released a statement through the League Managers Association (LMA) which read: “Naturally I am very saddened to receive the news and disappointed that I will no longer have the opportunity to achieve my ambition of reaching the Championship play-offs this season and, ultimately, promotion back to the Barclays Premier League.

“I would like to take this opportunity to wish the club, the management, the players and the supporters all the very best for the future.

“I am taking advice from the LMA who will be working to reach an amicable agreement with the football club on my behalf. Accordingly, I will not make any further comment at this stage.”

Richard Bevan, chief executive of the LMA added: “The LMA shares Brian’s disappointment at his leaving the football club and we find the timing of his dismissal very strange in all the circumstances.

“The club is only two points off a play-off place with a game in hand. Burnley have the third best home record in what is a really competitive Championship, they have only lost six games this season and have not suffered back-to-back losses.”

Confirmation Burnley and Laws had parted company was swiftly follow by the news Preston had terminated the contract of Ferguson in a bid to retain their Championship status.

The 38-year-old son of Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson arrived at Deepdale in January this year but has been unable to turn North End into promotion challengers, though, and leaves them rooted to the bottom of the table, five points adrift of safety.

Preston confirmed Ferguson’s sacking in a statement that read: “At a board meeting the directors of Preston North End decided to terminate the position of Darren Ferguson as manager.

“The club expressed their appreciation of the efforts made by Darren but felt that the league position represented a significant threat to the club and it was felt that a change of manager might bring better fortune.”

* MOTHERWELL are expected to confirm later today that former Scotland midfielder Stuart McCall is their new manager.