JAMES Scowcroft today expressed his disappointment at Peter Taylor's axing by Leicester.And the former Ipswich striker, who moved to Filbert Street in a £3 million summer deal, added: "The players let him down.

By Mel Henderson

JAMES Scowcroft today expressed his disappointment at Peter Taylor's axing by Leicester.

And the former Ipswich striker, who moved to Filbert Street in a £3 million summer deal, added: "The players let him down.

"We haven't performed as well as we believe we can, so we have to accept part of the responsibility for his departure."

Taylor became the first Premiership managerial casualty of the season when he was sacked following Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Charlton, which left the Foxes at the bottom of the table.

They have been toiling since a 5-0 home defeat by Bolton on the opening day of the season, with a 3-2 win at fellow strugglers Derby their only success in eight league games.

Former West Ham boss Harry Redknapp, known to be restless in his current role as Portsmouth's director of football, is already being linked with the job.

And another contender is George Graham, the ex-Arsenal and Leeds chief who has been out of work since being sacked by Tottenham earlier this year.

Former England Under-21 boss Taylor, also a key member of Sven Goran Eriksson's back-up team last season, had only been in charge for 16 months.

Scowcroft said: "Personally, I am very disappointed. He was a great chap to work for but he was under a lot of pressure right from the start of the season.

"It was important that we got off to a good start, but it didn't quite happen and football being football this is the outcome.

"We've had games, close games, that we nearly turned into wins. And if we could have got something at Charlton on Saturday I don't think we'd be having this conversation – Peter's job would have been safe.

"It all went wrong at the weekend. I went off after only ten minutes, we had a player sent off, we had a young lad making his debut and we ended up with only nine fit men."

Taylor and Scowcroft first worked together at Under-21 level and it was his admiration for Taylor as a coach that prompted the player to move to Leicester in the close season.

Scowcroft added: "I still believe Peter has a lot to offer football and I am sure another door will soon open for him.

"He was certainly very popular here with the players and I am very sad to see him on his way.

"I hope to get a proper chance to say farewell. If I can't do it personally I will certainly be on the phone to him, to wish him all the best for the future."

Scowcroft had to come off at The Valley with a recurrence of a back problem, but he insisted: "It's not serious. I won't be out for long."