Ricardo Moniz sacked by Notts County

Ricardo Moniz has been sacked as manager of Notts County after just eight months in charge of the club.

The 51-year-old was appointed County boss in April following the dismissal of Shaun Derry, but was unable to keep the club in League One, suffering relegation on the final day of the season.

Despite a signing spree in the summer, helped out by a sponsorship deal with Ladbrokes described as ‘the most lucrative in the club’s history’, Moniz has failed to light up League Two this season, leaving the club 15th in the table and out of the FA Cup following an embarrassing 2-0 defeat at non-league Salford City in the first round.

Moniz's assistant Dave Kevan and defensive coach Dean Yates have also been dismissed by the Notts board.

"I made it clear when appointing Ricardo that I wanted someone who would bring an exciting, attacking brand of football to Meadow Lane and I think it would be fair to say that in part he has done this, with some eye-catching attacking play on show at times this season," Notts chairman Ray Trew told the club's official website. 

"However, whilst showing considerable flair at times, particularly here at home, I feel that we have lacked a level of discipline and organisation in our defensive play throughout the season which has undermined our efforts and our right to play this free-flowing attacking style."

Trew added: "My goal for this club is, and always has been, to improve and whilst I by no means want to keep chopping and changing managers, I refuse to let us stagnate and I feel that the time is right for a new approach to reignite our season and get us back on track to where we want and need to be."

County's academy manager Mick Halsall and U21's coach Richard Dryden have been placed in caretaker control of the first-team ahead of Saturday's home match with Oxford United, with no appointment expected until after the weekend.

Names reportedly in the hat for the Notts manager's job include former Swindon boss Mark Cooper - who was spotted in the stands at Meadow Lane for the Magpies' game against Morecambe - and Newport manager John Sheridan, while Halsall has also not ruled out taking the job permanently.

Join in with our discussion regarding the dismissal of Ricardo Moniz - Here.