Former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan has told talkSPORT that it was a 'ludicrous decision' for Birmingham City to sack manager Garry Monk.

The 40-year-old was sacked by the Blues yesterday after 15 months in charge at St Andrew's following a reported disagreement with the club's owners.

It was reported last week that Monk's future at Birmingham was in doubt, after a disagreement with chief executive Xuandong Ren over the club’s strategy for next season, but he was still expected to remain in charge.

Monk was frustrated with the club's decision to allow forward Jota to leave to join Aston Villa and had reportedly clashed with the club's owners on numerous occasions.

The former Leeds United and Middlesbrough boss was able to keep Birmingham in the Championship last season, despite a nine-point deduction from the EFL, which saw the team fall from play-off hopefuls into a relegation battle.

Former Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan has questioned Birmingham's decision to sack Monk, describing it as a ludicrous decision.

“It looks like it's a slightly ludicrous decision,” Jordan told Jim White on talkSPORT on Wednesday.

“It looks like an aggravated decision. It look like someone has taken exception to the fact that football managers speak in a certain way and put pressure on you.

“If you haven't got a manager pressuring you, then that manager is not doing his job, because he should put you under pressure and then he should toe the line when told that's enough.

"He worked for (Middlesbrough chairman) Steve Gibson and he's one of the most reasonable chairmen and he didn't last long there, so there's got to be something in it, but this doesn't sound right.”

The Verdict

I think Jordan makes a good point here.

It seems like a strange decision for Birmingham to sack Monk, especially after he was able to keep the club in the Championship last season and there's obviously something that has happened behind the scenes that we don't know about.

Monk did a good job at Birmingham last season, in very difficult circumstances and the team were making good progress under him.

It's a major blow for the Blues to lose their manager now and the owner's decision to sack Monk has left the club in a very difficult position, as they prepare for next season.