Leeds United sack head coach Jesse Marsch

Leeds United have confirmed that they have parted company with head coach Jesse Marsch after just under a year in charge at Elland Road.

The 49-year-old has been relieved of his duties following a run of seven Premier League games without a win, leaving the West Yorkshire outfit in 17th place and hovering above the relegation zone on goal difference.

Marsch's dismissal comes less than 24 hours after Leeds suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground, their 10th Premier League defeat of the season.

The American leaves Elland Road with a win percentage of just 29.7% after winning 11, drawing 10 and losing 16 games in charge across all competitions.

Marsch also becomes the seventh Premier League manager to lose this job this season after Scott Parker, Thomas Tuchel, Bruno Lage, Steven Gerrard, Ralph Hasenhuttl and Frank Lampard.

#LUFC can confirm head coach Jesse Marsch has been relieved of his duties

— Leeds United (@LUFC) February 6, 2023

A statement from Leeds on their official website read: "Leeds United can confirm head coach Jesse Marsch has been relieved of his duties.

"Jesse joined the club in February 2022 and was instrumental in keeping the club in the Premier League on the final day of last season.

"Rene Maric, Cameron Toshack and Pierre Barrieu will also leave the club.

"We would like to thank Jesse and his backroom staff for their efforts and wish them well for the future.

"The process of appointing a new head coach is underway and we will continue to keep supporters up to date throughout the coming days."

Marsch succeeded Marcelo Bielsa this time last year and successfully steered Leeds away from relegation on the final day of the 2021-22 Premier League season.

© Reuters

The former Red Bull Salzburg and RB Leipzig boss then oversaw a summer transfer window in which Leeds spent close to £150m on seven new signings, while a further three players arrived at Elland Road in January including the club-record signing of Georginio Rutter.

However, Leeds find themselves in another battle to avoid demotion to the Championship having won only four times in 20 Premier League games this term, with their last victory dating back to November 5 – a 4-3 home win over Bournemouth.

West Bromwich Albion head coach Carlos Corberan – who worked under Bielsa at Leeds as a first-team coach – is the current frontrunner to succeed Marsch, less than four months after taking the reins at The Hawthorns.

Bielsa, Hasenhuttl and Mauricio Pochettino are also among the bookmakers' favourites to take over at Elland Road.