Claudio Ranieri has been sacked by Fulham after less than four months after being appointed, with Scott Parker placed in caretaker charge of the struggling London club.
The 19th-placed Cottagers look doomed to be playing Championship football next seasonwith the damaging 2-0 defeat at fellow strugglers Southampton on Wednesday evening seeing them fall 10 points from safety in the Premier League.
That setback on the south coast was a seventh loss from eight top-flight games for Ranieri’s side and was greeted with anger and protests from travelling supporters.
Ranieri won just three games after being appointed to replace Slavisa Jokanovic in November.
“I am obviously disappointed with the recent results and that we could not build on the good start we made following my appointment,” Ranieri said in a short statement.
“Finally, I would like to thank the Club, the players and the fans for the support they have given me during my time at the Club.”