CHRIS LAKEY Peter Grant has taken a sideswipe at Milan Mandaric after the Leicester City chairman sacked manager Martin Allen this week.Allen left the Foxes just three games into the Championship season, with Mandaric citing a "breakdown in their relationship".

CHRIS LAKEY

Peter Grant has taken a sideswipe at Milan Mandaric after the Leicester City chairman sacked manager Martin Allen this week.

Allen left the Foxes just three games into the Championship season, with Mandaric citing a "breakdown in their relationship".

Both Allen and Mandaric had previously denied rumours of a rift, which is believed to have stemmed from differences of opinion over the signing of veteran striker Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink - now with Norwich's next opponents, Cardiff.

The Canaries boss said he was not surprised that Allen had lost his job.

"Nothing surprises you nowadays - that is just the nature of the beast now," said Grant.

"Sometimes it becomes more like it used to be abroad - five minutes you were out of the job. You never even moved your family because you knew it would only be five minutes.

"But maybe that is the way certain clubs want to do it - they dictate or want to dictate who brings the players in, and who the team should be.

"Once they do that it is game over. If they want to do that, why not be the manager? Don't be the chairman, be the manager."

Mandaric insisted yesterday his decision was made in the best interests of the club and that it was one he made with the supporters in mind.

"They are going to have to trust me," he said. "I have done it in their interests.

"I have been criticised but I do what is best for the club. It is not about what is happening in 24 hours it is about what happens this season and the seasons to come. You have got to do what you have got to do.

"The club was not moving forward as quickly as I wanted so I had to make a change. I believe it is the right decision to make in moving the club forward and getting on with business."

The search for Allen's successor has begun, but Leicester will travel to Plymouth tomorrow with academy manager Jon Rudkin, coach Steve Beaglehole and goalkeeping coach Mike Stowell in charge of first-team affairs.

Mandaric refused to be drawn on whether the game at Home Park would be the only fixture the Foxes play without a permanent manager at the helm.

He added: "I have not spoken to anyone. But time is of the essence and we have started looking for a replacement.

"We will do our best to appoint someone as quickly as possible but I am making no commitments on this as it is to do with who is available and who is able to do the job."