Swansea boss Garry Monk expresses empathy for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

Swansea boss Garry Monk has expressed empathy for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after he lost his job as Cardiff manager.

Solskjaer had been at Cardiff since January, when he replaced Malky Mackay with the team struggling at the foot of the Premier League.

The former Manchester United striker was unable to keep the club in the top flight for a second season, and has now paid the price for Cardiff’s poor start on their return to the Championship.

Cardiff are currently sitting three points above third bottom Huddersfield, and defeat at home to Middlesbrough on Saturday was too much for Bluebirds owner Vincent Tan.

Monk said: “It’s been in a transition in the last couple of years for them. They obviously came up into the Premiership.

“They had done very well, won the Championship and then had a difficult season in their first year in the Premiership and obviously a change of manager just after Christmas is never easy for any club especially when you are new to the league.

"It’s all going on and you’re in a position in the league where you are there or thereabouts in the relegation battle..

“It’s always difficult but in terms of the ins and outs I don’t know quite how it’s worked with Ole there and his relationship. But when I met him and spoke to him about football he was a very good guy, very knowledgeable, and to me he seemed a very good manager.

“Looking at his relationship with the players from the outside looked very good. So, obviously I don’t know the ins and outs of the daily stuff that they do there but I just feel disappointed for him.

“I think he’s gone in there in difficult circumstances and obviously wanted to change their philosophy, the way they play, and play more football, and it hasn’t quite worked out for him.

“The owners dictate what happens and sadly he’s lost his job, which is never nice.”