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Bristol City chairman makes ‘difficult decision’ to sack manager

Bristol City chairman makes ‘difficult decision’ to sack manager Nigel Pearson after two-and-a-half years following defeat to Cardiff City.

The club have now lost five of their past seven matches with Saturday’s 2-0 defeat by Cardiff being Pearson’s final game with the club sitting 15th in thetable.

The 60-year-old was first brought in back in February 2021, initially on a short-term deal, and had been the second longest-serving manager in the Championship.

His contract was due to expire at the end of this season, but clearly they feel this is time for change.

CLUB STATEMENT:

Nigel Pearson has left Bristol City with immediate effect after being relieved of his role as manager.

City Chairman Jon Lansdown said: “This was a difficult decision to make as we recognise and appreciate how much Nigel has done for the club over the past two-and-a-half years on and off the pitch.

“Nigel is highly respected by the staff and players and has been very supportive of the Academy structure and our Women’s team.

“We all wanted Nigel to achieve our ambition to be promoted but, with our recent results, feel that now is the time to make a change to give the club the best possible chance of success.”

First Team Coach Jason Euell and Head of Medical Performance Dave Rennie have also left the club.

Assistant Manager Curtis Fleming will take on the role of interim head coach, supported by Ali Hines and Kalifa Cissé as the club seek a new Head Coach.

“The two goals we’ve conceded have both come from us, quite frankly. The first one, we gave the ball away in our own half which resulted, ultimately, with a corner, so that’s disappointing,” Pearson told BBC Radio Bristol after the Cardiff game, as per Bristol Live.

“The second goal is from a similar situation – we have good possession and give the ball away, so in that regard it’s very very disappointing,” he added. Pearson said there were few positives to take out of the game at all.

“Not a lot at the minute. I’m not very happy with the fact that it’s a very bang average game, we’ve got a depleted squad but it’s a game that’s there to be won. In the end we come away with nothing because we’ve been careless with the ball. I don’t think they’ve particularly created lots and lots at all, it was a game with nothing in it and we’ve come away with nothing,” he added.

“It’s tough when, at the moment, we’re not creating a great deal of chances, so it means we’ve got to be even tighter at the back, but we’ve put ourselves under pressure by giving away chances by conceding pressure in areas that are potentially dangerous and that’s something which is the most disappointing thing about it,” he added.

Pearson dismissed any talk of that penalty shout. “No, I don’t see any reason to start trying to look for things that aren’t there. The bottom line is they didn’t create anything, we didn’t create a great deal, but we should get something out of the game.”

“I’ve just been told they (Cardiff City) are fifth, well good for them, but I wouldn’t say that they are a sparkling side at all,” he said.

“I rue the fact that we’ve not been able to make the most of the possession we’ve had. We’ve looked relatively comfortable for a lot of the game. I don’t think think they caused us too many problems at all – they didn’t really open us up, but we concede two goals from our own possessions, which has ultimately cost us the game.”

Cardiff’s Erol Bulut said, as per Sky Sports: “I was clear what I wanted from those two players [Robinson and Colwill]. Offensively they are good. We saw again from Colwill a great goal, last game Robinson scored and also worked a lot here.

“Defensively they are doing much better than before. I am expecting this because we are 11 on the field and I need 11 players, not 10. They understand what I want. I am honest with my players. I don’t tell them anything else. I tell them exactly what I want. The good thing is that they try to give me back what I went from them. This makes me happy.

“It was not an easy game. After the last game where we won 4-0 against Huddersfield, I said to my team ‘we cannot celebrate, we have to continue to work’. We did and this is a good result for my team. I am glad to see this performance from the players.”

This is how fans reacted as the Bristol City chairman makes a ‘difficult decision’ to sack their manager…

@TheExiledRobin: @JonLansdown hiding behind recent results excuse when we’ve had a whole squad out injured and we all know that’s not the real reason. Shame

@GoldenGoalFF: He’s been hung out to dry, wishing him all the best in his health too. Shambles of a club atm, disgraceful

@NottsCountyZone: From the outside looking in, what a ridiculous decision. Sold your best player in the summer and wasn’t allowed to spend a penny. Done a good job on a non existent budget. Convinced you’ll come to regret this.

@owen_bhafc: Shame on you, he did a brilliant job with incredibly limited resources and testing conditions..

@shaner1989: Cheers for everything @NigelGPearson!!! Honestly didn’t want this to happen. Personally wish you all the best with the back situation, hope you get it sorted and we see you back in management soon.

@MarkH0794: Horrific how the club are treating the fans over this…fans have been here and supported Nige through it all and no communication- no fans wanted him gone and have been fully behind him- hope there is something huge lined up!

@somersetkeither: A shocking decision 😱 City benefited throughout the club at all levels from his experience, whilst @NigelGPearson had to work within a obvious remit, huge amount of injuries suffered have hampered any sort of continuity in team selection, hope this doesn’t return bite us🤞

@mikeycobban: Terrible terrible decision. This will come back to bite us

@stidger72: Absolutely ridiculous situation. Done an amazing job whilst being crapped on by the club. Selling best players. Not reinvesting in the right way. Once again club failed to read the fan base. You’d better hope this goes the right way on the pitch or watch people walk.

@MertBrown: A truly terrible decision . Has reduced the wage bill significantly , been forced to sell our best players, not given the funds to replenish the squad , a shocking injury list and he still kept us competitive in a tough league . What does the club expect from him?

@ahal56: League one it is then but that’s ok because we’ve got a league one chairman #lansdownout

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