Notts County chairman Ray Trew has explained that the decision to remove Martin Allen as manager was not taken lightly. Allen parted company with the League One club shortly after overseeing a 3-0 defeat at Hartlepool.

In a statement released on Sunday, Trew said: "I would like to start by saying that I fully appreciate the reaction and element of ill-feeling amongst a section of our fans over our decision to part company with Martin Allen on Saturday.

"The details of this matter are being handled in private, as is only right and proper, but I felt it important that I assure the fans that this decision would not have been taken had the board of directors not felt that it was in the best interests of Notts County Football Club.

"I fully appreciate that this has not been a universally popular decision, not least because of the work that Martin has put into developing a relationship with the supporters, but we have to look at the bigger picture and do what we feel is right for this football club.

"Whilst we strive for stability and a sustained period of growth and expansion under a settled structure, we have to make sure that we have the right people in place at the foundations of this structure if it is to go from strength to strength in the future."

 The game is about opinions. Make yours heard! Join the tribalfootball.com nation on Facebook today: Facebook.com/tribalfootball