Troy Deeney speaks out for the first time since being sacked by Forest Green, he feels 'used'

Troy Deeney has reacted to being sacked by League Two strugglers Forest Green after just 29 days in charge – and he hasn't held back in an explosive interview.

The former Watford forward was handed the Forest Green Rovers job on December 20 following the departure of David Horseman by mutual consent.

With the club sitting 23rd in the table after recording just four league wins all season, owner Dale Vince said Deeney was "well placed for the challenge" as he made the leap from player-manager.

But after a series of incidents, including a scathing verbal attack on Fankaty Dabo following a 2-0 defeat against Harrogate and a four-match ban for his behaviour at Swindon, the 35-year-old was relieved of his duties this week.

Vince said the club acted quickly to give Forest Green "the best possible chance of improving results and climbing the league table."

Now, the outspoken Deeney has claimed he was sacked by the League Two club before receiving his first pay slip.

“They told me it was because of results but I have trouble believing that," he told The Sun. “I feel to a certain extent I have been used for my contacts and pulling power.

“We had brought in five players in this window, most of whom would not have dropped down to the bottom of League Two if it wasn’t for me — including Maxi Oyedele, on loan from Manchester United.

“Four weeks ago, I was the solution. Now I’m told I’m the problem. I feel to a certain extent I have been used for my contacts and pulling power.

“We had brought in five players in this window, most of whom would not have dropped down to the bottom of League Two if it wasn’t for me — including Maxi Oyedele, on loan from Manchester United.

“Four weeks ago, I was the solution. Now I’m told I’m the problem."

Deeney added: “The club knew the type of character I was, someone that had been in the dressing room and knew changes needed to be made if the club was going to grow and gain improved results on the pitch.

“When you’re taking over a club in the middle of a season and it is rock bottom of the league you can’t take your time and go easy. Hard words needed to be spoken and I felt that we were about to turn a corner with results.

“Was I the problem? Or is it the club that is about to appoint its ninth manager in less than three years?

“I was expected to turn around the fortunes of a failing club in less than a month. I hadn’t even received my first payslip as a manager when they told me they were getting rid of me.”

Troy deeney not holding back on Fankaty Dabo’s performances🫣

“I said to him in front of everyone, 6 months ago, you had a kick to get to the premier league, now you won’t even get a game in the national league”😳 pic.twitter.com/SCP7Dgjiie

— The 44 ⚽️ (@The_Forty_Four) January 14, 2024

Forest Green chairman Vince has since admitted that Deeney's recent suspension played a part in their decision to part ways.

Deeney was charged by the FA with using "improper and/or abusive and/or threatening behaviour and/or language" after he was shown shown a red card at Swindon on December 29.

“I read some of what Troy said after that game, I didn’t hear it,” Vince told talkSPORT.

“I thought it was wrong, very wrong. He did later apologise on Sky so I think he knows it was wrong.

“It was definitely a factor, that and our results. Not our performances so much because our performances apart from that game had been good.

“I hadn’t had the chance to speak to him because I’d been busy this week and he also had a disciplinary this week with the FA. They banned him for four games for abusive and violent language towards officials.

“That was a new factor that that kind of thing [abusing officials] had happened. So really it was a bundle of things.

“We haven’t got a lot of time left to save our season and yesterday I felt it was better to make the decision sooner rather than later because I didn’t think it was going to work given those things.”