Sheffield United have sacked Nigel Clough after the club missed out on League One promotion.
The Blades, who reached the semifinals of the Capital One Cup, were beaten in the playoff semifinals by Swindon and have been condemned to a fifth year in the third tier.
Clough has been relieved of his duties with immediate effect, with his coaching staff of Gary Crosby and Andy Garner following through the exit door.
The decision may come as a surprise to Clough, whose previous clubs include Derby and Burton, after he declared that not going up was not a failure.
However, he was coy over his future after the Swindon defeat, insisting it was up to other people to decide his fate.
"You need to talk to somebody else about that, that's not my decision is it," he said, "I don't give it a second thought, if it happens it happens, that's part and parcel of football.
"I am manager of Sheffield United today, it's not my decision, it's up to other people.
"I think we have made progress this season, ultimately we haven't achieved our aim, if that progress is not enough then that's up to other people."