Blackpool 'an absolute disgrace' for sacking Simon Grayson according to former boss Ian Holloway

The 50-year-old was relieved of his duties on Wednesday following the 3-2 defeat to Gillingham the night before.

It came after Grayson had overseen a dismal run of just one win in 12, leaving the Seasiders in 15th place in League One and 13 points off the play-offs.

But Holloway, writing in his column with Bristol Live, says Grayson should have been given more time to turn it around.

"Blackpool’s decision to sack manager Simon Grayson this week after just seven months in charge was an absolute disgrace," the Grimsby Town boss said.

"While I will always be a Bristol Rovers fan at heart, I take an interest in all my former clubs and it sickens me to see the one I took into the Premier League join in a trend that brings modern day football into disrepute.

"The hiring and firing of managers has become a sad joke and I just hope the people running Rovers (who Blackpool play tomorrow) are sensible enough to give Ben Garner time to stamp his personality and coaching ability on the club.

"It can’t happen overnight. If the current rate of sackings had occurred 50 years ago, some of the greatest managers to have worked in English football, including the likes of Sir Alex Ferguson, would never have survived long enough to become the best in the business.

"When Grayson rejoined Blackpool last summer, I foresaw a new era of success at the club and I still think it would have happened had the club stuck with him.

"As recently as December the team had gone six games unbeaten and looked set to challenge for promotion. They also reached the FA Cup third round and took Reading to a replay.

"Yes, results have dipped since then, but eight of the nine defeats, including the one at Gillingham on Tuesday night, were by the odd goal.

"Anyone who watches football regularly knows how fine the dividing line can be between success and failure."