Swansea have sacked player-manager Jan Molby just two months into the football season.
This morning Molby’s Vetch Field office was empty as the former Denmark and Liverpool midfielder confirmed in an exclusive interview with the Evening Post that he had been dismissed by the club’s new owners.
A statement by Neil McClure, the Swansea vice-chairman and owner, said: “The board of Directors of Swansea City Football Club, a subsidiary of Silver Shield Group plc, have reluctantly terminated Jan Molby’s contract as manager with immediate effect. Billy Ayre’s contract as Assistant Manager has also been terminated.
“Pending the appointment of a new management team, Alan Curtis (Youth Team Manager) will assume responsibility for team affairs.”
The decision came as a bitter blow to Molby. “I was called into the office and told things had not been going well,” he said. “I was not asked to resign, I was sacked straight away.” Molby also said that assistant manager Billy Ayre was sacked at the same time.
“I’m bitterly disappointed. True, the results have been poor, but I’d like to think there was more to it than that. I don’t think they wanted me there from the start. “I wasn’t their choice and they made it as difficult as possible for me by refusing to let me bring in new players, Steve Watkin apart. I think the results have given them the perfect opportunity to get rid of me.”
Molby, who was appointed by former chairman Doug Sharpe in February last year, had another 12 months left on his contract. “I think I proved last season that even with no resources I could do the job,” added the 34-year-old.
“I created a new team, got to the play-off final and then had that team ripped apart from under me.”