BRISTOL City chief executive Colin Sexstone has dismissed reports suggesting a breakdown in the relationship between former manager Steve Coppell and chairman Steve Lansdown.

Coppell stunned City by quitting his post on Wednesday, claiming he had lost his passion for football management.

Dissatisfied with that explanation, some national media sources have attributed Coppell's sudden departure after just three months in charge to a rift with millionaire businessman Lansdown caused by the signing of England goalkeeper David James.

They claim James was not a Coppell signing and that the manager wanted money to be spent on strengthening other areas of the team instead.

An angry Sexstone, pictured above, poured scorn of those reports, describing them as "a complete and utter fabrication of the truth".

He said: "These people are so wide of the mark, it is unbelievable. I can say, quite categorically, that Steve Lansdown has supported every single manager he has worked with at Bristol City.

"He was 100 per cent behind Steve Coppell in the transfer market and never refused him any player he asked for. We looked at dozens and dozens of players."

He added: "To suggest there was a problem with the signing of David James is ridiculous. I was involved in that deal and Steve Coppell actually brokered it – he was the one who phoned the player and asked him to come to the club.

"David's wages were never an issue. In fact, it is more than likely that Steve Coppell didn't even know how much he was earning. To suggest he had a row with Steve Lansdown over this is wrong. They never had a cross word during the time they worked together."

Sexstone believes the frustrations brought about by dealing in the transfer market were a major factor in Coppell's decision to stand down as manager.

City's chief executive worked closely with the former Reading and Crystal Palace boss following his appointment at the end of last season and offers a fascinating insight into the pressures that finally persuaded the 55-year-old Liverpudlian to call time on his fledgling Ashton Gate career.

"There is no doubt in my mind that being a football manager is an extremely difficult job," said Sexstone, who helped broker the deals that brought David James, Damion Stewart, Kalifa Cisse, Nicky Hunt and Albert Adomah to the club.

"I think Steve found dealing with agents and trying to bring the right players in very frustrating. The transfer market has been a very difficult one this summer and there is no doubt it had a bearing on his decision. He found difficulty in coping with the day-to-day cut and thrust of the transfer market.

"He was presented with a unique situation in terms of the number of injured players he was unable to call upon and tried to address that through the transfer market. Unfortunately, we were forced down a number of blind alleys and it became very frustrating for him.

"More often than not, it was a case of the other club not wanting to sell the player in question. But funding was never a problem and money was always made available."

Coppell explained the reasons behind his premature exit in a statement issued through the League Managers Association, and Sexstone insisted: "There are no other reasons, and the national media are looking for things that are simply not there.

"Quite simply, Steve didn't have that enthusiasm or commitment he felt he needed to continue in a very demanding job.

"We obviously questioned his desire before offering him the job and he convinced us and assured us that it was what he wanted. Clearly, after three months, he felt differently and his was a purely personal decision.

"He was happy with the backing he had from the board and it was a purely personal decision. He felt there were other things in his life he wanted to do and, although we were surprised and disappointed, we had to respect that."

Defending the club's decision to appoint Coppell on a one-year contract as successor to Gary Johnson, Sexstone added: "Looking back is never a good thing, but we stand by the decision we made then. It was the right appointment at the time and we don't regret it. Steve's previous record spoke for itself. He was an exciting proposition for us.

"Obviously, events have happened since then that are extremely disappointing for all of us.

I was with Steve on Tuesday night after the Southend game and he was as disappointed as the rest of us with the result. But I had no inkling this was coming."