Nigel Pearson has left his role as manager of Derby County, the club has confirmed.
“Derby County Football Club can today confirm that they have mutually agreed to part company with Nigel Pearson with immediate effect,” read a statement.
It was widely expected that Pearson, who was appointed on 27 May, would leave Derby after a furious argument with Mel Morris, the Championship club’s owner, led to him being suspended before the game at Cardiff City at the end of September.
Pearson met Morris at Derby’s training ground the day before the match against Cardiff to discuss in part the club’s poor start to the season and it is understood the conversation became extremely heated. The club opened an internal investigation into the incident as well as other concerns about Pearson’s approach, but following the manager’s departure the investigation is now closed.
“As a result of the mutual termination of Nigel Pearson’s employment agreement with Derby County any disciplinary process has now ceased,” read the statement.
“The board of Derby County will now turn their attention to appointing a new manager as soon as possible and expect to announce a successor in a timely fashion.”
Derby’s next match is at home against Leeds on 15 October.
