Sutton United: Manager Matt Gray sacked by League Two strugglers
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Matt Gray led Sutton United to the Football League for the first time in their history in 2021
League Two's bottom side Sutton United have sacked manager Matt Gray.
Sutton were beaten 8-0 at leaders Stockport County on Saturday to leave them without a league win in five and six points from safety.
Gray, 42, became manager in 2019 and led them to the Football League for the first time in their history in 2021.
"Matt will forever have a large place in Sutton's history as the manager who took us to the Football League," a statement from the club said., external
Later on Tuesday Sutton confirmed assistant manager Jason Goodliffe will take charge of first-team training this week, in preparation for Saturday's game with Mansfield.
Sutton started the season with a 5-1 thumping of Notts County but then lost their next seven league games and failed to win again in League Two until October.
They have only won one more time in the league since, although they have made the third round of the FA Cup where they will visit Plymouth.
After Gray took Sutton into the EFL, they narrowly missed out on the play-offs by one point as they finished eighth in their first season in League Two and finished 14th last season.
The south London club also reached the final of the EFL Trophy in 2021-22 but were beaten by Rotherham on penalties and said the decision to sack Gray was "extremely difficult".
"This season's results have been disappointing and our league position, as we approach the half way mark of the season, led us to decide with great reluctance that a change is necessary," the statement continued.
"We would like to express our massive gratitude to Matt for the success he has given us during his four and a half years in charge, and for his endless dedication, commitment and hard work in that time, all done with an attitude, passion and energy that made him hugely popular in every area of the club.
"He will always be welcome at Sutton, and we offer him every good wish for his future career."