Warburton to leave Brentford in summer
Brentford have confirmed manager Mark Warburton will leave the club at the end of the season.
Assistant boss David Weir is also leaving Griffin Park in the summer, while sporting director Frank McParland has been placed on gardening leave ahead of a shake-up of the management structure.
There had been uncertainty over Warburton’s future after newspaper speculation suggested he would be replaced, and the club issued a statement last Tuesday which did not deny the rumours.
After talks with owner Matthew Benham on Monday, Warburton, Weir and McParland’s departures were agreed, with the backing of the board.
The club currently sit seventh in the Championship, a point shy of the play-offs, but have lost both games played since doubt was cast over Warburton’s future.
Brentford insisted Warburton and Weir would retain the club’s support for the rest of the campaign.
Under the proposed structure for next season, the Bees will appoint a head coach to work alongside a new sporting director.
The club said the coach would have a ‘strong input’ on player recruitment, but would not have a veto on signings.
Warburton’s managerial record
Played: 61
Won: 33
Drawn: 11
Lost: 17
Benham, who has been the majority shareholder since June 2012, said the changes were to “ensure the long-term prosperity of the club”.
He said: “I am a passionate Brentford fan and every decision I take is intended to be in the best long term interests of the club.
“Some of the decisions taken to date have been easy and some, like this one, have been extremely hard.
“Under Mark’s stewardship, Brentford have achieved a high league position and played football which is a joy to watch.
“It is difficult to seek to implement change, particularly when things appear to be going so well, but I am single-minded in my resolve that we can leave no stone unturned in our quest for sustainable Premier League Football.”
The club’s chairman, Cliff Crown, added: “We would have loved for Mark to stay, working within the new structure, but he feels that this is not right for him.
“We understand that completely and had to weigh up the benefits of the new structure against losing a fantastically successful manager before taking this decision.”
In a statement, Warburton, the club’s former sporting director who succeeded Uwe Rosler as first-team boss in December 2013, praised Benham, the players, staff and supporters.
He said: “While I am disappointed that we have been unable to reconcile some key philosophical differences, I’m relieved we now have clarity.
“I have enormous respect for Matthew and his investment in the Club and he has the absolute right to run the club in the manner he deems most appropriate and beneficial.
“In my remaining time at the Club we shall move heaven and earth to get the promotion that the players, fans and Matthew deserve and going forward, I wish the club every success in its ongoing adventure.”
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