Caretaker boss Keith Millen says Gary Johnson's departure is a "sad day" for the football club - but that he and the players will be 100% focused on Saturday's big home game against Newcastle.
The 43-year-old former Academy boss is no stranger to the role having had three games in charge as caretaker boss following the departure of Brian Tinnion in September 2005.
And he says he and the players now have a "responsibility" to put today's shock news behind them and stay focused on this weekend's clash with the league leaders.
He says: "It is a sad day - for me personally, as Gary is a good friend, and for the football club.
"I hope people remember what he has done for the club and where we were four-and-a-half years ago, near the bottom of League One.
"But football has a funny way of moving you quickly on to the next thing. We now have to get over the shock of what has happened, get back on the training ground and stay focused on the Newcastle match.
"[From my point of view] I need to turn around the atmopshere and attitude of this group of players. We have been very up and down this year and haven't had the consistency we want.
"The players now have to take responsibility for that and there can be no more excuses."
"It is a sad day - for me personally, as Gary is a good friend, and for the football club."
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He added: "The Newcastle game is one everyone in Bristol has been looking forwrad to all season and it that sense it is a good game to have.
"We are hoping to have a full house here in front of the Sky TV cameras. Hopefully the players will put in a performance on the pitch and the fans will get behind them."
Asked whether he was considering applying for the job on a full-timke basis, Keith replied: "All I can say is that I am thinking about the Newcastle game - that is a big enough job in itself!
"I am not going to commit myself anymore than that at this stage. I just want to get on the training ground, get the players lively and hopefully get all three points for the club on Saturday."
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