THE majority of Bradford City fans begrudgingly agree that it was the right time for their two managers to leave their respective post.
Mark Trueman, 33, and Conor Sellars, 29, were given their marching orders by the City board earlier this afternoon.
📜 CLUB STATEMENT | Mark Trueman and Conor Sellars have been relieved of their managerial duties at the club - with immediate effect.
— Bradford City AFC (@officialbantams) May 10, 2021
➡️ | Read: https://t.co/ZNjMfo8dvq#BCAFC | #CityForAll | @BradfordCollege pic.twitter.com/5MTnyuKywF
The pair had a remarkably good start after being handed the reigns on an initial interim basis when Stuart McCall was sacked last December.
Six losses on the bounce left the club pondering their future in the Football League but those fortunes were quickly reversed.
Only one defeat in Trueman and Sellars' first 15 games shoved the Bantams right into the playoff picture allowing the absent fans to dream about a Wembley visit.
Spirits were so high that the duo's stay was made permanent when they signed a deal running until summer 2022.
However, a torrid run of nine defeats in their final 15 matches of the season left supporters questioning whether Trueman and Sellars were the right men for the job.
Councillor Richard Dunbar (Lab, Thornton and Allerton), a City season ticket holder for a number of years, believes a lack of experience and poor results towards the end of their tenure ultimately cost them.
He added: "I was a little be shocked considering the good start that they made at the club.
"Although I think they are talented managers, do they have the experience to get us up next year?
"I do feel sorry for them, but I think the club are thinking about the future.
"Football is a results-based business and if you looked at the results over the last few months they weren’t great. If Stuart (McCall) fell by that sword then perhaps the same thing should be applied to Sellars and Trueman.
"Whether you are managing a football team or a business, you have got to motivate your staff even in the tough times. You have got to keep your eyes on the prize. Did people take their eye of the ball? Potentially yes.
"You want your players to work hard no matter what the situation. At Bradford City, we want to see players fight no matter what game it is, the fans deserve that."
Humayun Islam, Bangla Bantams chairman, added: "I am a bit surprised really because they kept us in the league, we thought we were going to end up in non-league.
"With no crowd and little experience, what they have done is still magical.
"I think we should have given them the opportunity to start the new season. It is a bit unfair, they should have been there when the fans return.
"You are going to get bad results but ultimately they kept us in the league and that’s the bigger picture.
"If I was Trueman and Sellars I would be disappointed.
"I think they have got somebody in the pipeline and that is why they have done this."
Here's how those on Twitter felt about the news.
Tough call but the right call by @officialbantams credit to Trueman and Sellars for keeping us up but not the right job for them. Hopefully they stay at the club and continue to learn #bcafc
— Matt Hubbert (@MattHubbert1408) May 10, 2021
Correct decision, thanks to trueman and sellars who have to done a great job steering us from relegation
— Trader 🇬🇧 🇺🇸 (@USbrokerdesk) May 10, 2021
Big thank you to Trueman and Sellars for keeping us in the football league, but the time is right for a change. Anything less than the playoffs next year is unacceptable and we need someone with a track record of getting teams promoted. #bcafc
— Daz Wheelhouse (@DazWheelhouse) May 10, 2021
Well, I am grateful to T&S for steadying the ship and for us surviving. However, recent games have been poor. I just hope the next manager is given the time to build something. Decisive action from @Ryan5parks but let's not get into the habit of doing this too often. #bcafc
— Steve Hamilton (@Bantam1873) May 10, 2021
I really do feel for them as I do feel these are another victim of players throwing the manager under a bus. Hope they get to have a round of applause from fans at some point that they deserve whether that be in a pre-season match or the 1st game. #bcafc https://t.co/mXD3QdRQLq
— Joe (@Calvey94) May 10, 2021
I feel this is the right call from the club. It was right to give Trueman & Sellars the chance & we owe them for what they have done. They deserve the chance to continue coaching at the club. An experienced manager with success at this level is vital for a promotion push #bcafc
— Carl Smith (@sm_carl) May 10, 2021
Thanks lads you did the job you were asked to do but it had to happen in my opinion #bcafc
— Craig McGrath (@craigymac83) May 10, 2021
Gutted it didn’t work out for them, you really wanted them to succeed, but it was obvious that they weren’t the long term plan to get us out this league. Deserve respect for what they did however. Disappointing how it ended as well, one point out of a possible 21. #BCAFC
— Matt 🐔 (@MattBcafc_) May 10, 2021
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