Roberto Di Matteo has been sacked as the manager of Aston Villa after just 124 days in charge of the Championship club.
Pressure was increasing on the 46-year-old's shoulders after he guided the team to just one win in the first 11 league games of the season.
Di Matteo, who won the Champions League as Chelsea manager in 2012, was hired by Villa in June after the club's relegation from the Premier League.
A 3-0 victory over Rotherham United in August was the club's only win under Di Matteo, whose final game was a 2-0 defeat to Preston North End.
The club have announced via their official website that Steve Clarke will become caretaker boss "during the search for a new manager".
A statement from Villa read: "Aston Villa Football Club has today parted company with manager Roberto Di Matteo. The club decided to act following a run of disappointing results which has the left the team occupying 19th position in the Championship.
"The club would like to place on record its appreciation to Roberto for all his efforts in helping rebuild the squad and wish him well for the future."
Overall, the club have recorded one win, seven draws and three defeats in the league this season.
Danielle Joynson
