Weir sacked as Blades manager

GONE: David Weir, left, has been sacked by Sheffield United along with assistant Lee Carsley. Picture: Mike Cowling.

The news broke just after 5pm on Friday afternoon just a few hours after under-fire Weir had delivered his pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday’s League One trip to Coventry City.

Weir’s assistant Lee Carsley has also left the club, with Under-21 coach Chris Morgan, goalkeeping coach Darren Ward and head of academy coaching Travis Binnion overseeing the team on an interim basis.

The Blades boss was subjected to a chorus of boos and chants of ‘you’re getting sacked in the morning’ after his side slumped to a 1-0 defeat to League Two strugglers Hartlepool United in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy at Bramall Lane on Tuesday night.

He kept his Blades players locked in the dressing room for over an hour after the final whistle as he delivered some “home truths” to the squad – who had not won a game inside 90 minutes since the opening day of the season.

The winless run stood at 12 games and Weir admitted following the Hartlepool defeat that he did not know if he would be given time by the club’s joint owners, Kevin McCabe and Prince Abdullah, to halt the slump.

He found out the answer to that question at around 4.30pm on Friday with former Derby County manager Nigel Clough - sacked by the Rams last week - quickly installed as favourite to replace the outgoing Weir.

Clough is the 4/6 favourite with William Hill to be installed as the next manager at Bramall Lane, while Russell Slade and Tony Pulis are 10/1. Former assistant manager Stuart McCall, later manager of Bradford City, is 12/1. Former Doncaster Rovers manager Dean Saunders - sacked by Wolverhampton Wanderers last season - is listed at 33-1.

In a statement released around 5.45pm, chief executive Julian Winter said: “First and foremost all at SUFC, from the board right the way through the club, wish David and Lee all the best for the future. None of us wanted to be in this position at this point in the season. David’s appointment was made as part of developing a new phase at the club.

“Chris Morgan has been asked and agreed to take an interim role in charge of Sunday’s team. He knows the players and, with Darren and Travis, will be doing his upmost to get a return to winning ways,” added Mr Winter.

Morgan added: “The club have made me aware of the situation and I am happy to step in and work with the players for the Coventry game.”