BBC SPORT | Football | Teams | Ipswich Town

Ipswich Town's record signing Hermann Hreidarsson has admitted his disappointment after the sacking of manager George Burley.

Ipswich sack Burley

Hreidarsson was told the news minutes before a training session with the Iceland national team, who take on Scotland in a Euro 2004 qualifier on Saturday.

He said: "It's a sad, sad day for the club, for George himself and for the players.

"For me personally, he has been brilliant. He had faith in me and brought me in and I'm disappointed.

George will feel his players have let him down

Russell Osman

"The chairman and the board have to put the club first but it's a sad day.

"He has done wonders and is a fantastic manager so all the best to him in whatever he does now."

Hreidarsson argued that the players must bear the brunt of the blame.

He said: "We were the ones who were on the pitch. It was our responsibility to be a success."

Former Ipswich Town star Russell Osman said he felt Burley had paid the price after the club's relegation from the Premiership.

"It seems the club might have tried to grow a bit too quick in the Premier League and there's also been a bit of a problem with them losing players," he said.

Matt Holland and Marcus Stewart look downcast as Ipswich lose their Premiership status
Relegation was hard to take for Ipswich Town

"It's nice to seem them in Europe this season through their fair play last season - but I'd prefer them to have got three or four red cards and still be in the Premier League."

Osman added: "(George) will feel his players have let him down.

"Titus Bramble left for Newcastle and Marcus Stewart moved on (to Sunderland) and it's always a shame when you have to let your best players go."

Former Ipswich striker Alan Brazil said the current squad had not demonstrated the team spirit which had taken them to the Premiership.

"I've not seen every game this year but I've seen enough - and some of the foreign players have really annoyed me.

"I don't see the togetherness there this year and I blame certain players.

"The defeat at Grimsby was the final nail. The decision will have been hard to take but it's cut-throat now.

"They (the Ipswich board) will fear that if they leave it any longer they can forget about promotion.

"We're coming to the silly season - and there will be more (sackings) to come, don't worry about that."