Howard Wells has been sacked as the Irish Football Association's chief executive.
Decision comes out of the blue
Howard Wells has been sacked as the Irish Football Association's chief executive, the governing body have announced.
The IFA said they had taken the step "in the best interests of the association and the member clubs".
The news has come out of the blue after Northern Ireland lost 2-0 to Slovenia on Saturday to sit second bottom of their World Cup qualification group.
Nigel Worthington's side are preparing to take on San Marino on Wednesday, a match which will be shown live on
Sky Sports 3 at 7.45pm.
Terminated
A short statement read: "The Irish Football Association has today terminated the employment of its chief executive in the best interests of the association and the member clubs."
Wells, who had attended the Slovenia game, added: "The matter is in the hands of my legal advisors and that is all I'm saying. I'm not prepared to make any further comment."
Wells became the IFA's first chief executive in November 2004 after he had held similar posts at Watford and Ipswich.
An experienced sports administrator, he was the inaugural chairman of UK Sport and also chaired the Central Council of Physical Recreation.
The Belfast-based position was created as part of the reorganisation of Northern Ireland football under the government's soccer strategy.
Tension
There has been tension between Wells and IFA president Raymond Kennedy for some time.
It was revealed in August that Wells had taken a grievance case against his employer, claiming he had been treated unfairly because he was English.
Then last week it was reported he was a leading contender for the chief executive's position at the English Football Association, which Brian Barwick will vacate at the end of the year.
