Lee quits

[Adalon]

WALSALL FC have today announced that the services of team manager Colin Lee have been terminated with immediate effect.

In a telephone conversation this morning, Jeff Bonser was informed by Plymouth Argyle FC Chairman Paul Stapleton, that they would not be making a decision on their managerial appointment until next week.

Mr. Bonser explained: "The decision by Plymouth Argyle FC to delay the announcement of their new manager has created an atmosphere of intense uncertainty at a crucial stage of the season.

"The situation was created by Colin Lee being prepared to talk to Plymouth Argyle about their managerial vacancy just six months after pledging his long-term future to Walsall FC.

"The uncertainty that has been caused has had to be dealt with, and I believe this decision to be in the best interests of Walsall FC."

First-team coach Paul Bracewell has also left the club. He said: "Colin Lee brought me to the club to work with him, and it seems right that if he departs, I should go too."

Jeff Bonser went on to praise the work of Bracewell. "I fully understand the reasons for Paul's decision to leave us," he said. "He has made a real impression during his time at Bescot Stadium. His training methods and ideas have been well received. He has made a real contribution, and I wish him well for the future."

Paul Merson, assisted by Simon Osborn will be responsible for the team at Norwich City tomorrow.

Meanwhile Jeff Bonser will have further discussions next week with these two players about arrangements for the remainder of the season.

[Huckerbys right foot]

there going down tomorrow!!!

Bring on the no manager side

[Adalon]

Walsall FC Owner Jeff Bonser has confirmed that Colin Lee, after expressing his willingness to talk to Plymouth Argyle FC about the vacant managers position at Home Park, was interviewed for the job on Wednesday afternoon.

Mr Bonser expressed his disappointment at recent events: "Colin Lee approached me for a long-term contract last October," he said. "He told me that he was settled in the area, enjoyed working at the club, and wanted to play a leading role in determining the future structure of the club.

"It is very disappointing that within six months of signing the new contract, he is talking to Plymouth Argyle about their managerial position.

"The events of the past few days have hit the club hard, and there is a feeling amongst all the staff at the club that they have been badly let down."

[Adalon]

Walsall manager Colin Lee has spoken of his shock at being dismissed by the club as he hopes for a positive conclusion to his quest to take over at Plymouth Argyle.

The former Tottenham striker was axed by The Saddlers despite being given permission to hold talks with Argyle, and he has revealed that a dispute over whether he could select a player, presumably Paul Ritchie, in the past may have been one of the reasons behind what seems an acrimonious exit.

"I was given permission and spoke to Plymouth," Lee told Sky Sports News.

"I told the chairman I had done that and basically there was a response to that in quite a serious manner, if you like.

"It went public and obviously I've ended up having my contract terminated.

"In fact, Jeff Bonser (the Walsall supremo) gave my number to Plymouth and, if that doesn't indicate he wasn't against it, well, I'm baffled by the whole situation to be honest.

"I must say, a few weeks ago, I did question the stance of the club to do with a decision from the top in not being able to play a certain player because of a contractual clause and that put doubt in my mind about where the club was going."

Lee was keen to talk to Plymouth, but insists he would not have entertained their interest if he had failed to receive Walsall's blessing.

"The Plymouth situation then came up and the owner gave me permission to speak to them," he added.

"I went off and spoke with them but expected to work with the team today and travel to Norwich to try and get some points there.

"My contract is a yearly contract, I don't think that's long-term, it was a roll-on contract, and, if the football club didn't want me to speak to Plymouth, they should have told me that.

"If they had said that, I wouldn't have spoken to them.

"I'm a strong member of the LMA and had no intention of walking out on my contract at Walsall.

"I saw nothing wrong with talking to Plymouth, it was more to do with the future and I'm ambitious and want to be successful.

"Plymouth would be like a boyhood dream. I come from that area, I'm a Devonian and I used to stand on the terraces at Plymouth.

"There's a lot of reasons why I wanted to investigate what Plymouth were saying. I never contacted Plymouth and I never went behind Jeff's back.

"I'm not manager of Walsall any longer and I don't know if I'll be manager of Plymouth.

"I'd love to be as it's always been an ambition to try and go back and be successful with a local club.

"Perhaps it might happen, it might not, but a very strange situation has ocurred in the last week."

[Olzy]

Walsall going down now?

[mr.watford]

yeah i think they will

[Danny]

Apparently Walsall let Lee go to lower the wage bill. Dunno how true it is, he couldn't of been on that much.... Could he?

nah, the chairman of walsall is full of shit. He let plymouth approach lee, and when lee talks to them he gets sacked. WTF??

[Huckerbys right foot]

they sacked Lee with a game vs Norwich the next day

i think the chairman is now kicking himself

yup, bonser is a twat, i hope lee sues the fucking fat bastard