Fulham’s Sanchez sacked
Fulham become the seventh English Premier Club to change managers this season.
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| Lawrie Sanchez: Shown the door at the Cottagers [GALLO/GETTY] |
Lawrie Sanchez was fired as manager of Fulham after only eight months in charge, becoming the seventh managerial change in the English Premier League after four months of the season.
Fulham is in 18th place in the Premier League, having lost its last three league games.
Sanchez replaced Chris Coleman in April after leaving his job as Northern Ireland manager.
“Following a run of disappointing results the club is languishing in the relegation zone of the Premier League table, and losing its Premiership status is a proposition that simply can not be contemplated at this stage in the club’s ongoing development,” Fulham said in a statement.
“The club is confident that it will find the right replacement to increase its chances of remaining in the Premiership, which is of vital importance.”
Fulham said Ray Lewington and Billy McKinlay would be in charge of the team for its game against Wigan on Saturday and until a replacement is found.
John Collins, a former Fulham player who quit as manager of Scottish Premier League club Hibernian on Thursday, is believed to be a leading contender.
Sanchez also managed at Wycombe from February 1999 until September 2003.
Billy Davies left on November 26 as manager of last-place Derby.
Other Premier League managers who have left their clubs so far this season, either by mutual consent or by dismissal, are Chelsea’s Jose Mourinho, Tottenham’s Martin Jol, Bolton’s Sammy Lee and Wigan’s Chris Hutchings.
Steve Bruce quit Birmingham to take over at Wigan.