Salford City manager Karl Robinson has been sacked following their League Two play-off final defeat.
The 45-year-old has been axed eight days after his side were beaten comprehensively by Notts County at Wembley.
He led the Ammies to a highest-ever league finish and took the club to the FA Cup fourth round for the first time, where they were beaten 2-0 by Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
Salford were taken over by a nine-member consortium headed by Gary Neville and David Beckham in May 2025, this is the first sacking under the new ownership structure.
Both Neville and Beckham were in attendance at Wembley as Salford missed out on a first-ever promotion to the third tier.
Former MK Dons, Charlton and Oxford boss Robinson had been in charge at Moor Lane for just under two and a half years, making him the club’s joint-longest serving manager in the Football League era, along with current Bradford City boss Graham Alexander.
Robinson apologised to supporters, saying his team had “let them down” after the Wembley defeat.
“I’ve got some of the most incredible people in there and I know because of how good they are as people that it is hurting them,” he told the press of his changing room’s reaction to the chastening loss in the biggest game in their history. “I can’t speak to them about football because this team will never play together again.”
He continued: “The learning points of it are minimal, but it’s about them taking experiences away. It’s about them learning who they are and making sure that whatever their destination is next is that they’re better, but also that they can stay consistent in their personalities.”
Robinson will have to follow his own message now he has been relieved of his duties less than two weeks after the season ended.
A club statement said: “Salford City Football Club can confirm that Karl Robinson will leave his position today as head coach with immediate effect.
“This decision has been reached unanimously by the club’s board and executive team following a thorough review of the football operation.
“Karl has conducted himself throughout his time at Salford City with professionalism and integrity.
“These decisions are never easy, but we believe this is the right moment to make a change as we look ahead to the next chapter in Salford City’s development.”
They missed out on automatic promotion on the final day when they failed to win at third-bottom Crawley.
After that match in Sussex, he slammed a “blatant and horrific” refereeing decision not to award a penalty in the second half.
Robinson may see that as a cruel sliding doors moment which cost him his job.
The future of Robinson’s assistant Alex Bruce and wider coaching team is yet to be confirmed.
“The process of appointing a new Head Coach will begin immediately, and we will provide a further update to supporters in due course,” the statement added.
