Salford City have parted with head coach Neil Wood after a run of eight League Two games without a win, with the club 21st in the table.
The 40-year-old led the Ammies to the League Two play-offs last season having succeeded Gary Bowyer in May 2022.
However, Wood was unable to steer Salford to similar success this term, and Boxing Day’s 5-1 home loss to Tranmere proved his last match in post.
Assistant coach Simon Wiles will take charge of Friday’s game with Grimsby.
The former Manchester United under-23 coach was a penalty shoot-out away from taking Salford to Wembley last season, when they lost to Stockport County.
Yet, only six wins from 23 league games this season have left Salford loitering just outside the bottom two.
“The club would like to thank Neil for his hard work over the last 18 months, including leading the club to our highest-ever finish in Sky Bet League Two last season, and we wish him well in his future role within football,” Salford said in a statement.
Goalkeeper Alex Cairns said in a post-match interview with BBC Radio Manchester after the Tranmere loss that it was time for the team to take responsibility for results.
“I don’t think any footballer goes out to do the manager [an injustice],” Cairns said.
“As a group we need to be accountable for that performance, we’re the ones out on the pitch, and even if we’re not playing well we have to stand up and be counted and win our individual battles.
“We weren’t that tonight.”
Analysis – Wood pays price for disappointing season
BBC Radio Manchester’s Bill Rice
Salford City’s owners made promotion every other year their target when they took charge, and the club were promoted four times in five seasons as they made a rapid ascent through non-league.
But they have found League Two a much tougher nut to crack.
Former Manchester United Academy coach Neil Wood was their fourth permanent appointment to try and get them promoted, and he came close in his first year with their highest ever finish and a penalty shootout loss to Stockport in the playoffs.
His second season though has been a disappointment, with the club 21st in the table and looking nervously over their shoulders. A lengthy injury list hasn’t helped – with the likes of Callum Hendry, Ossama Ashley, Theo Vassell and Luke Bolton all missing long spells – but it is hard not to think the squad was left short of numbers.
Whether the head coach is to blame for that or not, he has ultimately paid the price. Wood said this season Salford may have overachieved reaching the play-offs last season; the owners it seems do not agree.
