Scunthorpe United sack manager Russ Wilcox
Last updated on .From the section Football
League One strugglers Scunthorpe United have sacked manager Russ Wilcox and his assistant John Schofield.
Wilcox, 50, who took over following Brian Laws' departure last November, led the club to promotion from the fourth tier last season.
In doing so, he also beat the record for the longest unbeaten run at the beginning of a managerial reign, as they went 28 matches without defeat.
But the Iron are now 23rd in League One, with just two wins from 11 games.
And the Glanford Park side were knocked out of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy at home to Notts County on Tuesday.
Wilcox took charge of the club on a caretaker basis after Laws was sacked following the FA Cup defeat by local rivals Grimsby.
After helping the club to four wins and a draw from five matches in temporary charge, he was given the job on a permanent basis on Christmas Eve.
The club remained unbeaten under Wilcox for 28 games and secured promotion on 26 April, despite the unbeaten run having come to an end at Exeter City.
| BBC Radio Humberside's Scunthorpe United commentator Mike White |
|---|
| "Whilst somewhat surprised at the timing of Wilcox's departure based on a conversation I had with the chairman last week, I sensed it wasn't far away."With results not getting better, even slight improvements in performance were always going to be overshadowed as the natives got restless."He gained many admirers with last season's achievements, although maybe not among all fans, which you thought would buy him time. Not so." |
Wilcox, in his first managerial role, was awarded for his achievements with the League Two Manager of the Year accolade.
However, hampered by an injury crisis that Wilcox called the worst he had seen in 30 years, the Iron have won just four of their first 15 matches in all competitions this season and are three points from safety in League One.
Iron midfielder Neal Bishop admitted that the players have to take responsibility for the club's poor form.
"It's not nice to see anyone lose their job especially a good man like Russ," he told BBC Radio Humberside.
"Ultimately it comes down to us as players but you don't see a team getting sacked and the manager keeping his job.
"There's been signs that we can be a good team but we haven't done it often enough."
Experienced full-back Andy Dawson and coach Tony Daws have been placed in temporary charge for the trip to Gillingham on Saturday.