Despite recently signing a three-year extension, Aalesund coach Ivar Morten Normark was asked to step down after a club board meeting. So far Normark has refused to accept the decision.
"This comes as a big surprise. I feel fired without reason," Normark told Aftenposten.no.
"The board of (Aalesund Football Club) has Nov. 2, 2005 informed Ivar Morten Normark that we want him to step down as head trainer for Aalesund's Fotballklubb. A negotiation meeting will be held in the course of the day," the club said in a press release Thursday.
Normark has twice led the club to promotion to the Elite division in his five-year stint in Aalesund, but both times the colorful trainer could not prevent immediate relegation, despite two ferocious season finishes.
Norwegian Broadcasting's regional office said that the players want a new trainer but Normark said he intended to keep turning up for work until the situation was completely clear.
The other casualty from Norway's top division, northern club Bodø/Glimt, announced that former Rosenborg veteran Erik Hoftun would be taking over as player-manager, newspaper Avisa Nordland reports.
Coach Ola Haldorsen and his assistant Jan Erik Bjerk left their jobs on Thursday, and Hoftun turned down an assistant coaching position at Rosenborg just before the news broke.
