FOREST GREEN ROVERS have sacked manager Ady Pennock with just one game of the season left despite the boss guiding the club to their highest ever finish.
Rovers were in the National League title race with Gloucestershire rivals Cheltenham Town but a poor run of form gave the Robins the advantage and they were confirmed as champions two weeks ago.
Pennock – who last week labelled Forest Green as “unprofessional” and said their pitch was a “disgrace” – joined Rovers in November 2013, replacing Dave Hockaday who had been at The New Lawn for over four years.
Rovers finished fifth last season before losing in the play-off semi-finals to promotion winners Bristol Rovers and they are guaranteed to finish second this term.
Despite the club's highest ever finish in the National League, it wasn't enough to save Pennock's job with chairman Dale Vince saying the poor run of results – which has seen the club not win in seven – forced him to act.
“It was a difficult decision just a week out from the play-offs after Ady had taken us to our highest placed finish in the National League,” he said.
“However, as a club we felt we needed to make this change, in order to give us the best chance of succeeding in the play-offs. We thank Ady for his efforts while at the club and wish him well in the future.”
Forest Green's academy manager and former first team captain Scott Bartlett will take over as caretaker manager ahead of Saturday's final game of the season against Dover Athletic and the ensuing play-off matches.
