Lee Carsley has received the thanks of Brentford’s Co-Directors of Football after leaving the Club yesterday. Lee has been with Brentford for just over a year, initially as Development Squad Manager and, for just over two months, as Interim Head Coach. During his spell in charge Brentford won five of ten games and Lee was named Sky Bet Championship Manager of the Month for October.

Lee stepped down from the Head Coach position when Dean Smith arrived at Griffin Park last week and had agreed to stay on until the end of the year to help with the handover process. But with new Head Coach Dean and his assistant Richard O’Kelly settled quickly Lee suggested yesterday, Thursday 10 December, that he leave the Club earlier than originally planned. After discussions with Phil Giles and Rasmus Ankersen, Brentford’s Co-Directors of Football, it was agreed that Lee could step down with the Club’s best wishes.

Rasmus Ankersen said: “We would like to again thank Lee for all his work over the past 14 months at the Club and especially for his work as Head Coach. Lee performed a vital role in stabilising the Training Ground environment after a difficult start to the current season. His work ensured we were able to take our time and find the right Head Coach to lead the Club forward and he has passed on his knowledge of the players and staff to Dean.

“When Lee suggested his work at the Club was done, we were happy to let him go. He has done a great job and will always be on the end of the phone if anyone here needs anything. He can spend Christmas with his family and take some time away from the day-to-day rigours of football. We were pleased we could give him this extra time and he goes with our best wishes.

“Lee has always been honest with us as to his thoughts and we appreciate that. I am sure he will be back in club football when he feels the time is right. In the meantime everyone at Brentford wishes him all the best for his work with the England Under-19 squad, a job we know he enjoys.”

Phil Giles added: “I would reiterate Rasmus’ words and add my own thanks to Lee for the job he has done. The Training Ground environment is now a very good one and Lee deserves a lot of praise for that. He also got us some great results while Head Coach, including the QPR game, which I am sure our fans won’t forget.

“The decision for him to leave now was taken quickly during a conversation at the Training Ground yesterday but the reasoning was sound and all parties agreed it was the right thing to do. Lee was always be welcome at Griffin Park or Jersey Road and I am sure he will have a long and bright future in coaching ahead of him.”