Town will face a Colin Todd-less Derby County on Saturday when they travel to Pride Park. The Rams' manager has left the club "in a bid to give new impetus to the club's Premiership survival campaign," according to their official website.
Chief Executive Keith Loring said: "The decision made by the Chairman and Board of Directors was unanimous and Colin has been aware the Chairman was not happy with the way things have been going. Everyone at Derby County remains committed to helping this club stay in the Premiership and with 16 games to play the overwhelming feeling is that we need a change of direction and new impetus. Colin was made assistant manager in October 2000 and when Jim Smith left a year later it was felt he should be given a chance as manager. However since then we have lost 11 games of the 17 played. We are second-to-bottom in the league and a week ago were knocked out of the FA Cup by a struggling Third Division team. Clearly things have not improved. The Board has not taken this decision lightly. As a player Colin Todd remains a Derby County legend and it was everyone's wish that he would be successful too as a manager."
Reserve team manager Billy McEwan will be in charge for the game at the weekend and Derby have been at pains to point out that no conversations have taken place regarding Fabrizio Ravanelli taking over as manager. A number of newspapers reported this morning that the Italian was set to take over as boss when Todd left.