Warburton Gone - Official

1) There are no realistic replacements who stand out as a better option
2) We've not had a bad season (we were 10th after 44 games last season remember)
3) It is massively risky to sack the manager when let's say at least 50% of the fanbase don't support the decision (a poll on Twitter currently suggests 70-80% of fans do not believe we will be better off without him
4) The job he's done at QPR guarantees him a good Championship job elsewhere - you just know he'll be back at Loftus Road next season taking 3 points.
5) He'd be a leading contender to replace himself, which suggests we shouldn't be letting him go!!

I would love to know exactly what targets the Board and Warburton agreed when they set out his new contract. Although as Holloway found out, you can achieve your target and still get fired.

After the FFP fine the owners seemed more than happy to finish anywhere between 7th and 21st which guaranteed Championship safety.

The issue for Warburton is that he has been given more finances than other managers like Holloway and McClaren so the boards expectations are higher. It doesn't help Warburton when TF sees some of our major recent signings like Bonne and Kelman sent out on loan and some of our highest earners, Austin, Johansen and Adomah sitting on the bench. TF and RG are the men signing the cheques and want a return for their investment.

Conversely, as already pointed out the board will know that if they don't renew Warburton's contract then any new manager will want to bring in his players and that will result in major upheaval and starting the whole building process all over again. It's also possible that the board think that our current squad needs a major overhaul anyway and this is exactly the right time to get rid of the manager.

IMO it won't have helped Warburton that he has gone out and spoken to the press. All clubs like to keep discussions about contracts in house and I wonder how Warburton would have reacted if one of the players had done similar.

I think it's all a bit messy, I still wouldn't be surprised if he ended up staying.

The club seem keen to wait until the summer to do everything, perhaps bigger things are afoot as that does seem a dangerous tactic to lose a manager and half the squad next week. Warbs said today that players contracts up as caused concerns to the players involved not knowing what the future holds.

I'm a bit baffled by it all to be honest, been handled really poorly similar to when Holloway left

As much as I’ve slated him
It’s sad to see him go
If Tim Sherwood comes anywhere near our football club I will personally come and drag him out

This saids to me somebody is already lined up
The decision seems to have come very sudden and from nowhere

The minimum target must have been the play offs.