Gus Poyet bizarrely found out he had been sacked as Brighton & Hove Albion manager while he was appearing on BBC as a TV pundit on the coverage of the Confederations Cup.
The Uruguayan was a pundit for the Confederations Cup game between Nigeria and Spain on Sunday when he was informed by host Mark Chapman during a commercial break that Brighton had announced his dismissal on their website.
"Gus Poyet has been informed today by Brighton & Hove Albion football club's internal disciplinary panel that his employment has been terminated with immediate effect," read the statement.
"This followed his suspension, an investigation, and a subsequent formal disciplinary process.
"In line with the club's own procedures, and UK employment law, Mr Poyet now has a right of appeal. As such, the club will make no further comment on this matter or recent LMA statements at this time.
"Given the close proximity of the new season, the club will, in conjunction with its board, now seek to appoint an interim manager pending the outcome of a possible appeal.
"The interim manager will oversee the initial weeks of pre-season preparation alongside the club's existing staff."
Contrary to the very first sentence of that statement, Poyet claimed the first he had heard of it was during the half-time break, when BBC producers printed it off the website and showed it to him on the set.
Poyet said: "I think the BBC have a great story forever, because a manager getting the information that he is being released from his employment by the BBC is quite surprising.
"I have had no communication, no texts, no e-mail. I didn't receive anything on my phone, so it is all up to you and the timing.
"The only thing I'm concentrating on is the appeal. I will appeal because it's the right thing to do."
Poyet had led Brighton to last season's Championship playoff semi-final, but was suspended by the club due to comments he made in the wake of a bizarre incident in which feces were smeared in Crystal Palace's dressing room before that loss.
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| Gus Poyet reacts after being told by the BBC that he had been sacked by Brighton Photo: YouTube |
The Uruguayan was a pundit for the Confederations Cup game between Nigeria and Spain on Sunday when he was informed by host Mark Chapman during a commercial break that Brighton had announced his dismissal on their website.
"Gus Poyet has been informed today by Brighton & Hove Albion football club's internal disciplinary panel that his employment has been terminated with immediate effect," read the statement.
"This followed his suspension, an investigation, and a subsequent formal disciplinary process.
"In line with the club's own procedures, and UK employment law, Mr Poyet now has a right of appeal. As such, the club will make no further comment on this matter or recent LMA statements at this time.
"Given the close proximity of the new season, the club will, in conjunction with its board, now seek to appoint an interim manager pending the outcome of a possible appeal.
"The interim manager will oversee the initial weeks of pre-season preparation alongside the club's existing staff."
Contrary to the very first sentence of that statement, Poyet claimed the first he had heard of it was during the half-time break, when BBC producers printed it off the website and showed it to him on the set.
Poyet said: "I think the BBC have a great story forever, because a manager getting the information that he is being released from his employment by the BBC is quite surprising.
"I have had no communication, no texts, no e-mail. I didn't receive anything on my phone, so it is all up to you and the timing.
"The only thing I'm concentrating on is the appeal. I will appeal because it's the right thing to do."
Poyet had led Brighton to last season's Championship playoff semi-final, but was suspended by the club due to comments he made in the wake of a bizarre incident in which feces were smeared in Crystal Palace's dressing room before that loss.
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