WATCH: Jose Morais sacked by Barnsley after relegation to League One

The Reds lost 4-1 at Derby County on the final day of the Championship season, a result which, coupled with a 3-2 win for Bolton at home to Nottingham Forest ensured the Reds’ two-year stint in the second tier was brought to an end, along with that of Burton Albion, who lost 2-1 at ten-man Preston North End.

Barnsley have reacted to their relegation from the Sky Bet Championship by sacking head coach Jose Morais and two of his backroom staff.

The Portuguese joined Barnsley on an 18-month deal in February with a brief of keeping the Tykes in the second tier after replacing Paul Heckingbottom.

But he won only three of his 15 games in charge and a 4-1 thrashing at Derby on the final day of the regular season confirmed Barnsley would drop down to League One.

Morais, who worked with Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho at Inter Milan, Real Madrid and Chelsea, has therefore had his contract terminated, as have assistant head coach Dimas Teixeira and physical coach Joao Cunha.

Gauthier Ganaye, Barnsley chief executive, said: “You can put it that he has been sacked. His contract was written in a way that, in case of relegation, we would terminate the contract. So we have respected the contract. It is too soon to talk about whether he was the right appointment.

“Today is a say day. We have been working hard in the last few weeks on two scenarios: for League One and the Championship. It’s going to be League One and we will come back stronger.

“We haven’t been good enough as a club. I am very disappointed. I expected a different outcome but sometimes in life you need to accept complications. The most important thing is to carry on and work hard.

“The owners came with a long-term project. Short-term everybody would prefer in the Championship. It’s not the case but it won’t change the object long-term. We will have to do it from League one, it’s a big challenge but we will do it.

“When you are the head or the organisation you need to take responsibility and I accept that. I will make sure we will roll up our sleeve and come back stronger. The team is not a shambles. Most of the players are under contract. We have to rebuild with players going in and out but it is not as job a job as you can think it is. We need to appoint the right man and sign the right players to take us back to the Championship.”