After defeat in the 2006 League One play-off semi-finals, Brentford were rocked by the resignation of popular manager Martin Allen on 30 May 2006, who felt he "had taken the club as far as I could and felt it was right for me to leave". Chairman Greg Dyke revealed that Allen's departure was due to the cash-strapped club's wage budget being reduced for the 2006–07 season, despite an FA Cup run and the £500,000 sale of DJ Campbell during 2005–06. Chief scout John Griffin handled first team affairs until the appointment of Leroy Rosenior as manager on 14 June. Despite the summer sales of star players Jay Tabb, Michael Turner and Sam Sodje generating upwards of £1,000,000, Rosenior was forced to bring in players on free transfers, building a new spine for the team with centre backs Adam Griffiths and Matthew Heywood, midfielderThomas Pinault and forwards Jo Kuffour and Chris Moore. GoalkeeperStuart Nelson, full backsAndy Frampton and Kevin O'Connor, midfielders Ólafur Ingi Skúlason, Paul Brooker, Alex Rhodes and forwards Lloyd Owusu and Calum Willock remained from Martin Allen's first-choice squad from the previous season, though Owusu would miss much of the campaign with a groin injury. Brentford enjoyed a good start to the season, going undefeated in eight matches and rising as high as fourth in the table. A 2–0 league defeat to Swansea City on 12 September began to turn the tide, with Rosenior forced to turn to youngsters John Mousinho, Clark Masters, Darius Charles, Ryan Peters, Karleigh Osborne and Karle Carder-Andrews to cover for injuries to eight senior players. Incoming forwards Clyde Wijnhard and Fola Onibuje failed to readdress the team's goalscoring problems after injury to Calum Willock and Chris Moore failed to continue his early season form. After a winless run of 16 games which dropped Brentford into the League One relegation zone, Leroy Rosenior was sacked as manager after a 4–0 home defeat to Crewe Alexandra on 18 November. Youth team manager Scott B. Fitzgerald took over from Rosenior on a caretaker basis and was later given the job on a permanent basis until the end of the season. Off the field there was a glimmer of hope in January 2007, when supporter Matthew Benham paid out nearly £3 million to take over some of the club's loans. Despite a clearout, an influx of signings and an additional goal threat from emerging youngster Charlie Ide, rookie manager Fitzgerald fared little better than his predecessor, winning just four of 24 matches before his departure after Brentford's relegation was confirmed on 9 April. Head of Youth Barry Quin took caretaker charge for the final four matches of the season and despite a first win in over two months, Brentford finished the campaign bottom of League One.
