Mick Mac Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > ?I was informed after yesterday?s match against > Sunderland that my contract with Manchester City > was being terminated with immediate effect. > Notwithstanding media coverage to the contrary, I > was given no forewarning as to the Club?s > decision. Given the speed with which my > successor?s appointment was announced, it would > appear that the Club had made its decision some > considerable time ago. > > I am extremely disappointed not to have been given > the opportunity to see through my plans at the > Club. At the beginning of the season I sat down > with the owners and it was agreed that a realistic > target for the season would be 6th place in the > Barclays Premier League, or in the region of 70 > points. All of this was communicated to the > players and we all knew where we stood. Whilst > everyone at the Club would obviously have wanted > to see more wins, we were absolutely on target at > the time of my dismissal. Only recently we had > terrific victories against both Arsenal and > Chelsea. > > I am very proud of the fact that I steered the > Club through the most significant period of change > in its history. > > I have always been aware of the responsibility > that comes with being afforded the luxury of a > significant transfer budget, and I was grateful > that the Club supported me with significant > investment in players. I very much regret, > however, that I will not now be able to enjoy the > success that would undoubtedly have followed in > the light of that investment. > > I believe that I have handled with dignity the > recent pressure placed upon me by press > speculation. > > I would like to thank the fans for their support > throughout my time at the Club and particularly at > this difficult time, and I wish the Club every > success in the future, particularly in relation to > the forthcoming Carling Cup semi-final, the Club?s > first semi-final for 28 years.? *Applauds*