Paul Ince has been sacked as manager of Blackburn Rovers following the club's disappointing start to the Barclays Premier League season.
The Blackburn board met yesterday to discuss the future of the former Macclesfield and MK Dons boss, who guided Rovers to just three wins in 17 league games since his appointment in June.
He leaves with the club second bottom of the league.
'It is with great sadness the board announce that Paul Ince is to leave the club,' read a statement on Blackburn's club website.
'After a board meeting yesterday it was decided to relieve Paul of his duties.
'The board, having selected Paul back in June, were desperate for him to succeed and wanted to give him as much time as possible in the unforgiving environment of Premier League management, where time is such a precious commodity.'
Chairman John Williams added: 'Three wins in 17 games has seen a squad, which finished seventh last season, fall to 19th position. We are currently in real danger of becoming detached from the pack.
'The survival of the club in the Premier League is paramount and our focus now is on finding a replacement who will be able to maintain our top division status.
'Paul will bounce back, he is a fighter and we wish him well.'
Blackburn's part-time defensive coach Nigel Winterburn felt Ince should have been given more time to turn things around.
'I would have loved for him to be given time in the transfer window in January to bring in his own players,' he said.
'I'm positive that he would have seen results improve but the board have decided that isn't the case.
'I think people were starting to panic. The results have not picked up and they've decided they need someone else in place to drive the club forward.'
The former Arsenal left-back is now unsure of his future at the club, having been brought in by Ince.
'I'm waiting to hear whether or not they want me to carry on,' he added.
'When I signed I told them that if things changed I'd be happy to rip up my contract and walk away.'
