Northern Ireland sack manager Ian Baraclough

Ian Baraclough has been sacked as Northern Ireland manager after a dismal Nations League campaign saw fans turn against the 51-year-old.

The decision was reached at an Irish FA board meeting on Thursday night, and came after Baraclough's side collected only five points from a possible 18 from their League C group, battling relegation in a campaign in which they had targeted promotion.

Irish FA chief executive Patrick Nelson said: "Under Ian’s stewardship we have seen the introduction of new players who will wear the green jersey with pride for years to come and for this we place on record our gratitude.

"However, in light of the overall record of results on the pitch, the Irish FA board has subsequently taken this decision."

Baraclough stepped up from Northern Ireland’s under-21s to replace Michael O’Neill in June 2020 but won only six of his 28 games in charge inside 90 minutes, also beating Bosnia & Herzegovina on penalties, missing out on both the Covid-delayed Euro 2020 and this year’s World Cup.

But although he succeeded in one major part of his brief – bringing through players from the under-21s – it was the Nations League that cost the former Sligo, Scunthorpe and Motherwell boss his job.

The Green and White Army turned on Baraclough in June, when disappointing draws home and away to Cyprus came alongside a home defeat to Greece and a loss away to Kosovo.

In September, Northern Ireland scored twice in the last 10 minutes to come from behind and beat Kosovo 2-1 at Windsor Park, their first ever Nations League win in a record that dated back to O’Neill’s era – but days later they lost 3-1 to Greece in Athens in what proved to be Baraclough’s final game.

That defeat left Northern Ireland reliant on Kosovo’s win over Cyprus