Ward started his managerial career at York 19 years ago

Colchester United boss John Ward says the sackings of Chris Hughton and Sam Allardyce have "ridiculed" football.

Hughton was axed as Newcastle United boss earlier this month, while Allardyce was dismissed by Blackburn's new owners this week.

And Ward, who sits on the League Managers' Association board, has hit out at both decisions.

"It ridicules the game at times and defies logic," the former Cheltenham Town manager told BBC Essex.

"It's well renowned that a settled football club has better results than one that chops and changes," he said.

Hughton led Newcastle back to the Premier League last season and left with the Magpies 11th in the table.

And Allardyce was dismissed just one month after Rovers was sold to the Rao family.

"When I see Chris Hughton's lost 14 games out of the 70 he's been in charge of, for someone to perceive that as not being successful is absolutely amazing," Ward added.

"And when I see Blackburn owners saying they want to be in the top four or five, I scratch my head and think 'how are you going to do that?'

"If you're going to get close to that you're going to need someone like Sam Allardyce.

"Time will tell of course but certainly at the moment I find it baffling."

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