WANDERERS' Chairman Gordon Hargreaves said the parting had been an amicable one as he sat with Todd and his Chief Executive Des McBain round the table at the Reebok this morning.

Mr Hargreaves said: "It has nothing to do with recent results although people may feel that has something to do with it. But I can assure everyone that there has been an understanding between the club's directors and the manager for some time.

"Even today we have been working together on football matters. But Colin has personal ambition to drive the club forward and at this moment in time we couldn't match those ambitions."

Mr Hargreaves said Phil Brown, Todd's chief coach, will take charge of preparations for Saturday's home game against Nottingham Forest. The club has no new manager lined up and the chairman stressed: "There will be no knee-jerk reaction."

Of the sale of Frandsen he said: "It is regretful but essential. The board has to get the finances more in line with income in this division. Even after the Frandsen deal no funds can be made available for re-investment in new players at this particular moment."

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