Former Bristol City manager Dean Holden has taken interim charge of Championship rivals Stoke after the club confirmed the sacking of Michael O'Neill.
The Northern Irishman became the Championship's first managerial casualty following a poor start to the season that included one win in their first six matches. The final nail in the coffin came following Saturday's home defeat to newly-promoted Sunderland.
Stoke were also knocked out of the Carabao Cup to Morecambe and lost three of their first five league matches to leave them 21st in the Championship. O'Neill was averaging just 1.11 points per game in 2022.
Holden will take temporary charge of the Potters. He had been first-team assistant to O'Neill since April 2021 and had previously spoken of his desire to get back into management.
The 42-year-old told talkSPORT: "I think I some point in the future I'd love to do it again, it was a job I absolutely loved, I've got to be honest. When I decided to go back in as an assistant having been a manager, it was important that I could work with a guy that I could really learn from.
"Michael's a great manager, a hugely successful national manager, I've learned so much in the seven or eight months I've worked with him so that's for me the most important. I'm definitely a better assistant having been a manager because I know what it feels like to walk in those shoes."
He spent four years on the coaching staff at Ashton Gate under Lee Johnson's management before emerging as a surprise contender for the head coach role after the latter's sacking.
Holden made a flying start to life as City boss winning his first four matches but was axed following his 41st game in charge following a run of six consecutive defeats.
He has previously been linked with the Blackpool job in the summer before Michael Appleton's appointment and the Walsall position in February, where he spent time as a player.
Stoke's joint-chairman John Coates said in a statement: "Michael joined us in November 2019 when the club was in a difficult situation and the job he did in stabilising our position in the Championship should not be underestimated.
"Michael has worked tirelessly and with extreme professionalism, in particular in reshaping our squad and developing young players, but we feel the time is right to move in a different direction. I would like to thank him for his efforts and wish him every success for the future."
SIGN UP: For our daily Robins newsletter, bringing you the latest from Ashton Gate
READ NEXT
