Chargers Planning to Fire Coach Norv Turner, General Manager A.J. Smith?

The San Diego Chargers will fire both head coach Norv Turner and general manager A.J. Smith at the end of th2 2012 season. Or will they?

Turner and Smith's job security has been thrown into question following a report from the San Diego Union-Tribune's Kevin Acee.

"Sources said this week that Chargers President Dean Spanos essentially decided at least a month ago that Turner's time was drawing to a rapid close," wrote Acee. "Spanos, sources said, has more recently resigned himself to the fact that Smith can't be kept in the current environment of plummeting performance and fan unrest."

If the intelligence is accurate, it's news to Turner and Smith. Both say they haven't been informed of their employment status.

"I hear a lot of things every day," Smith said, when told he must have heard a decision has already been made. "Dean and I have not discussed my job status. We just discuss our players and what we can do to beat our next opponent."

According to Acee, Turner and Smith are in the dark because, while Spanos wants to get rid of Turner, he's the only person he trusts right now to handle the team.

Acee wrote: "Spanos is waiting until after the season, more because that is his preferred time to make such moves than due to any faith in the Chargers' microscopic playoff chances. Spanos also believes Turner is the only person qualified to call the offensive plays."

General manager Smith has been with the team since the 2002 season. During that period, the Chargers are 100-72 in the regular season and 3-5 in the playoffs. Turner replaced Marty Schottenheimer as head coach in 2007 and has guided the franchise to a 53-39 mark in the regular season and a 3-3 mark in the postseason, taking the team to the AFC championship game in 2007, his first season with the team. The Chargers are currently 4-8 and will miss the playoffs for the third consecutive season.

Chargers president Spanos has since issued a statement refuting Acee's report.

"There is only one person in this organization who will make those decisions and that's me, and I haven't shared my thoughts with anyone," said Spanos. "I will make my evaluations at the end of the season. Anything coming out now - from sources or otherwise - is pure speculation."

Acee reports that Smith has two seasons and $4 million remaining on his current contract, and that Turner is still owed $3 million for his remaining one year.

Acee also suggests the team has already chosen a general manager.

"It is not known who will take over for Turner, but current Director of Player Personnel Jimmy Raye is the apparent replacement for Smith. Sources said Raye, who has been with the Chargers for 17 seasons, will ascend to a job much like Smith's but with his new right-hand man being the owner's son, John Spanos," he wrote.

Potential head-coaching candidates for Turner's spot include Oregon head coach Chip Kelly, or Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator Ray Horton, according to Acee. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com and the NFL Network reports that current Philadelphia Eagles head coach Andy Reid could target that position once his expected firing takes place at the end of the regular season.