The League Managers' Association have condemned Chris Hughton's dismissal as Newcastle manager as "disappointing" and pointed to the club's record while he was in charge.
Peter Beardsley, the Magpies' reserve team manager, will take temporary charge of the team against another of his former clubs Liverpool this weekend following the sacking of Hughton on Monday.
Richard Bevan, chief executive of the LMA, said: "The LMA is extremely disappointed that Newcastle have parted company with Chris given the success the club has experienced since his appointment."
He added: "Not only did Chris secure promotion back to the Barclays Premier League, but achieved two club records in the process; 102 points to secure promotion and the longest sequence of unbeaten league matches (17).
"Throughout his time at Newcastle, Chris has conducted himself with tremendous integrity and dignity, the team's current position of 11th demonstrating the stabilising effect Chris has had in his role as manager during his period at Newcastle."
The Magpies terminated Hughton's contract saying they needed "someone with more experience".
Newcastle said in a statement: "Regrettably the board now feels that an individual with more managerial experience is needed to take the club forward."
The announcement was met in bafflement by veteran defender Sol Campbell, who told ESPN Soccernet: "This will hit the players hard. The players admired him and liked him and won't be happy now he's gone like this.
"It makes no sense. Here is a guy who has done an unbelievable job. He got the club back into the Premier League and any manager would have been rewarded for that with a new contract, but Chris wasn't.
"The players are sure to be asking themselves 'what the hell is going on?', that is only natural. When we left training on Monday morning none of the players had a clue this was coming. Yes, it has come as a shock, and it will affect the dressing room there is no doubt about that."
Source: PA
