Luke Williams has left Meadow Lane to become head coach of Swansea City.
The two clubs have agreed compensation for the 43-year-old, who joins the Sky Bet Championship outfit along with his assistant Ryan Harley and coach George Lawtey.
A statement from our board of directors reads: “As disappointed as we are to lose Luke, he departs with nothing but our very best wishes.
“We’re sure this sentiment will be shared by our supporters, who have grown to love him not only for his phenomenal achievements but also his infectious personality.
“He will be forever known as the man who took the world’s oldest professional club back into the EFL, breaking records and creating lifelong memories along the way.
“The high-profile nature of our achievements since Luke’s arrival 18 months ago, coupled with the immense respect he holds within the game, mean it’s come as no surprise that he’s attracted interest from higher in the pyramid. Our focus now has to be on finding a new head coach to build on the excellent foundations he’s laid.
“It’s important to remember that the club operates in a way that protects itself against the loss of a key figure like Luke. While his presence will naturally be missed, our vision remains the same and we’re very confident of finding a suitable replacement to fit our ethos and help the club challenge for promotion to League One.
“It’s still very much our intention to strengthen the squad this month and, as evidenced in the summer of Ian Burchnall’s departure, we’re more than capable of doing so without a head coach in place should the correct opportunity arise.
“We thank our fans for their ongoing support and will provide a further update when appropriate.”
In the interim, first-team affairs will be handled by Jim O'Brien, Tom Weal and Joao Alves.
O'Brien, the club's longest-serving player, possesses the Uefa A Licence and has already taken his first steps into coaching with a role in Sheffield United's academy.
Weal is well known to supporters as our head of goalkeeping and set-piece coach, while Alves has been part of our first-team coaching and analysis set-up for several years.