Adam Lockwood had been wanting his players to be more ruthless, but last night it was the club's directors who showed the killer touch.

Just like his predecessors Mark Bower and Steve Kittrick, the Guiseley boss was axed after a poor start to the season.

The Nethernoor hierarchy have always acted swiftly and without sentiment when things aren't going well so it should come as no surprise that Lockwood and his experienced assistant David Penney were in the firing line.

With just five goals from seven games it is clear to see the reason for Guiseley’s sluggish start to the National League season.

The Lions have failed to find the net on five occasions and while their haul of five points is better than at the same time last season when they ended August pointless, they are again in the National League’s bottom four.

They have lost all three of their away games without scoring a goal and Guiseley followers have been increasingly frustrated by their team's cautious approach and puzzling selections.

The board have made no secret of their desire to avoid another battle against relegation after escaping on the final day of the last two campaigns.

Lockwood,a rookie manager, worked wonders to turn around what seemed a hopeless cause last season with a goal in the final minute of the last game against Solihull Moors from Danny Lowe keeping them up.

During the summer he was given backing to recruit players to move the club forward but the results have been disappointing, and like Bower and Kittrick before him, past achievements counted for nothing when the board felt moved to act.

Lockwood's interviews on Guiseley Radio have been downbeat and increasingly repetitve after recent games. 

He spoke of the need for his team to be more ruthless and even suggested that not enough of them were making a claim for a regular place.

Lockwood was never a comfortable communicator but the increasing pressure he felt was clear even if the same message kept being trotted out. 

Ultimately the 2-0 defeat in their televised game at Halifax and Monday's 1-0 home loss to Hartlepool sealed the fate of Lockwood and Penney.

Ironically, Halifax and Hartlepool, with four goals each, are the only teams to have scored less than the Lions.

The frustration Lockwood felt was clear as he said after the Hartlepool game: “It is always disappointing to lose, we had a few chances early on to take the lead, score and it is a different story.

"There were a few occasions where we just needed to get the ball in. We got Kayode Odejayi on and he unsettled their defence a bit. It was not always pretty and caused them problems in their box, but I am disappointed we weren’t a bit smarter.”

Lockwood was also concerned by the form of his players. He rang the changes on Monday but still felt he wanted to see more from his men.

He said: "Everybody has now had a chance and played a part and people have to stake a claim for the shirt.

"They have to make themselves the first name on the teamsheet, at the moment we don’t have enough of them. Week in and week out we have to stand up and be counted."

Who will lead the side in Saturday's tough game at Leyton Orient hasn't been revealed. The only member of the coaching team still in post is Steve Dickinson, the goalkeeping coach.

Apart from the brief statement posted on the club website last night announcing the departures of Lockwood and Penney there has been no further detail provided.

The Guiseley fans will be hoping that the board have somebody in mind who can both improve results and lift the air of despondency that descended on Nethermoor during Monday's defeat.

The new man has a big job to do.