Football: Gus Poyet sacked by Brighton live on TV

Gus Poyet

Brighton and Hove Albion of the English Championship sacked manager Gus Poyet on Sunday night – and the Uruguayan only learned the news on live television.

Poyet was informed of his dismissal by the BBC while he was appearing as a TV pundit on the coverage of the Confederations Cup.

“I think the BBC got a great story forever really because a manager getting the information that he’s been released from his employment during the time of a programme is quite surprising,” the 45-year-old Poyet said.

He confirmed he would take up his right of appeal against the sacking decision.

Brighton had announced the sacking, which had not been unexpected, on their Twitter feed.

The Uruguayan had been suspended last month for an alleged breach of contract, and looked odds-on to be dismissed when he failed to appear before a club disciplinary hearing last week.

Poyet did attend the re-convened hearing on Thursday aimed at resolving his differences with club chairman Tony Bloom but the announcement of his sacking came on Sunday night while he was appearing on television.

The club statement announced: “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.”

Newspaper reports in England last week suggested Brighton had already lined up the former Maccabi Tel Aviv manager Oscar García as Poyet’s replacement.

Garcia, a 40-year-old Spaniard, played for Barcelona and coached their youth team for two seasons, joining Maccabi last May for his first senior management job and led the club to their first league title in 10 years.

He resigned shortly afterwards, citing personal reasons.

Poyet, who has been linked with the vacant managerial chair at relegated Wigan Athletic, recently came under fire for his managerial style.

Spanish full back Vicente, who was released by Brighton, blasted Poyet in the local newspaer, the Argus.

Vicente, who played in the Champions League and La Liga for Valencia and was capped 38 times by Spain, told The Argus: “He is the worst person I’ve come across in football.”

He added: “For me he is a selfish person, very egocentric. I say that because it’s how I feel.

“I won’t talk badly about my team-mates, because they have been fantastic with me. What I think is unacceptable is that the manager makes fun of his players. I’ve seen things here that I have never seen in my career. If you miss with a shot in training, he makes fun. For me, that is unacceptable in football.”

Watch the video of his sacking being announced on air: