THE sale of Per Frandsen proved to the final straw for Colin Todd, who resigned just three days before a home game against this Saturday's opponents Nottingham Forest in 1999 for which his coach Phil Brown took charge.

Six weeks into Todd's fifth season in charge of team affairs, the former England international ended his seven-year association with the Whites when he resigned in protest over the club’s decision to sell Frandsen to Division One rivals Blackburn Rovers for £2.25million. Todd, who recommended the Danish international should not be sold, told his directors his position had become untenable.

He had grown increasingly frustrated by the financial constraints imposed since Wanderers’ failure to win promotion back to the Premiership the previous season.

He had been unable to strengthen his squad – even with loan signings – unless he offloaded players.

Brown enjoyed a winning start to his temporary reign, beating Forest 3-2 with goals by Eidur Gudjohnsen, a Dean Holdsworth penalty and Neil Cox.