Brentford manager Mark Warburton will leave the club at the end of the season, the club confirmed on Tuesday.
Warburton, who succeeded Uwe Rösler in December 2013, led the club to promotion from League One last season and has taken them to within a few points of the play-off places in the Championship table.
However, the former City trader will be replaced regardless of whether Brentford go up this term, with the Rayo Vallecano coach Paco Jémez being lined up to take over. Warbuton No2 David Weir and technical director Frank McParland will also leave the club.
The decision will not go down well with Brentford fans or the players considering Warburton’s popularity.
But owner Matthew Benham said: “I am a passionate Brentford fan and every decision I take is intended to be in the best long term interests of the club. Some of the decisions taken to date have been easy and some, like this one, have been extremely hard.”
Cliff Crown, Chairman of Brentford FC said: “Lots of clubs are criticised for short term thinking – we want to take a long term view and put structures in place that both the Board and the owner believe will be to the benefit of Brentford FC for years to come.
“The new structure is unusual in English football, although commonplace in other European countries and in other sports. We would have loved for Mark to stay, working within the new structure, but he feels that this is not right for him. We understand that completely and had to weigh up the benefits of the new structure against losing a fantastically successful manager before taking this decision.”
Warburton said: “I will be forever grateful to Matthew for giving me the opportunity to be Manager of this fantastic football club and for what he has done for the club since I have been here “It has been an absolute honour and a privilege to do the job and I have had the pleasure of working with a fantastic group of players and staff and have enjoyed the backing of a magnificent set of supporters.
“While I am disappointed that we have been unable to reconcile some key philosophical differences, I’m relieved we now have clarity. In my remaining time we shall move heaven and earth to get the promotion that the players, fans and Matthew deserve and going forward, I wish the club every success in its ongoing adventure.”
