Waterford FC owner Richard Forrest has released a statement on the sacking of club manager Marc Bircham earlier today.
The decision was taken to terminate Bircham's contract, after he had earlier gone public with news of a one-week suspension following a disagreement with Forrest in a text conversation.
The controversy comes on the eve of Waterford's biggest game in arguably a decade, with the Blues facing UCD in a relegation play-off at Richmond Park on Friday night, having finished 9th in this season's League of Ireland Premier Division.
Bircham had earlier expressed his surprise at the decision to WLR, telling Deise Today that he learnt of his sacking on Twitter.
Fans have reacted angrily to the news of Bircham's untimely departure, and called on Mr. Forrest to clarify the situation.
In a club statement, Mr. Forrest said that he made the decision in the 'long-term best interests of the club' having been 'backed into a corner'.
"Since I arrived in Waterford my full and total commitment has been to unite the club and build a Waterford FC we can all be proud of.
"I am extremely disappointed to have had to make this tough decision we did today especially given the huge match we have facing us on Friday. I feel we were backed into a corner, given an ultimatum, which as an owner left me no choice but to act now in the long term best interests of the club. I would have only made this decision when left with no other option and I take no personal satisfaction from it."
"Therefore, it would not be right for me to comment any further on the above as we now need to put all our energy into Friday’s game and have the squad fully focused."
"The club would like to thank Marc for the great job he has done for us and wish him all the best for the future."
"Finally, I would encourage everyone to all get behind the team as you have done throughout this season as we, THE BLUES, fight for our right to be in the League of Ireland Premier."
Yours in sport,
Richard Forrest
