Having served as Sir Alex Ferguson's assistant at Manchester United between 1991 and 1998, Brian Kidd decided that the time was right to fly solo.
He inherited the job as Blackburn Rovers manager in December 1998 from the sacked Roy Hodgson, but despite winning the Manager of the Month award early on and splashing around £20m on new players, Kidd was unable to keep the Lancashire-based outfit in the Premier League.
However, owner Jack Walker stuck by Kidd, believing that he was the best man to guide Rovers back into the top flight at the first time of asking.
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The bookmakers agreed with that viewpoint, having installed Blackburn as the pre-season favourites to secure promotion.
Yet, from the 0-0 draw on the opening day of the season with Port Vale at Ewood Park, Kidd and his players struggled to live up to expectations. A 2-0 victory over Walsall in late September was Blackburn's third win of the campaign and it would end up being Kidd's final triumph as manager.
His side went on a winless run of seven matches, with a 2-0 home defeat at the hands of Queens Park Rangers proving to be too much for Walker, who 15 years ago today decided that the time was right to part company with Kidd after just 11 months at the helm.
"It is a sad day for me particularly and for everyone connected with the club," Walker said in an official statement. "Brian is a first-class honest man and we so wanted it work out for him. But at the end of the day I have to put the club first. Results have not been good enough and in the end it's as simple as that."
Kidd departed Blackburn with the team 19th in the First Division table and just two points above the relegation zone.
Tony Parkes took caretaker charge, before Graeme Souness was appointed. Under the Scot's guidance, Blackburn finished the campaign in 11th spot.
Since he left the club, Kidd has never returned to management. Instead, he has had series of assistant roles with Leeds United, England, Sheffield United, Portsmouth and currently Manchester City.
Liam Apicella
