29 October 2023 , 15:11
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Nigel Pearson has left his position as Bristol City manager after two-and-a-half years at Ashton Gate.
Saturday’s two-goal defeat at Cardiff was Bristol City’s second successive Championship defeat and left them 15th in the standings with 18 points from their opening 14 matches. They are currently nine points clear of the drop zone and five points adrift of the promotion playoffs.
Pearson was appointed as City boss in February 2021 and at the end of that campaign was handed a three-year deal by the Championship outfit. He took charge of 131 games at the Robins, winning 42 of them - a win percentage rate of just 32 per cent.
Bristol City's First Team Coach Jason Euell and Head of Medical Performance Dave Rennie have also left the club. They have confirmed that Curtis Fleming - who had been Pearson's No.2 - will take on the role of interim head coach, supported by Ali Hines and Kalifa Cisse as the club seek a permanent successor for Pearson.
Pearson is best known for his stint as Leicester City boss (PA)City Chairman Jon Lansdown has said of the club's decision: “This was a difficult decision to make as we recognise and appreciate how much Nigel has done for the club over the past two-and-a-half years on and off the pitch.
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“Nigel is highly respected by the staff and players and has been very supportive of the Academy structure and our Women’s team.
“We all wanted Nigel to achieve our ambition to be promoted but, with our recent results, feel that now is the time to make a change to give the club the best possible chance of success.”
Pearson had said after Saturday’s meek defeat at Cardiff: "I don't think there was much in the game to be honest," he said. "We conceded two goals from our own possession. Unfortunately we didn't create enough. It was two sides who weren't really playing with a great deal of creativity.”
Bristol City were Pearson's eighth job in football management, with two of those stints coming at Leicester City - where he accumulated 289 matches in the dugout across the two spells, earning promotion in 2014 and maintaining the Foxes position in the top-flight the following year, before Claudio Ranieri replaced him and guided the club to their remarkable Premier League title.