Birmingham City have sacked manager Harry Redknapp, hours after the Blues lost 3-1 at home to Preston North End in the Championship.
The club also revealed that Lee Carsley, Blues Head Professional Development Coach, will step in as Caretaker Manager.
The 70-year-old took charge of the club with three games remaining last term, winning the final two to avoid relegation from the Championship on the final day.
The former Tottenham and Portsmouth boss then signed a one-year deal in May to stay on as Blues boss.
Carsley, 43, who was previously head coach at Brentford on an interim basis in 2015, steps up from the role of development squad manager at Birmingham.
Redknapp’s assistant Kevin Bond has also left St Andrew’s, but coaches Paul Groves and Kevin Hitchcock are set to stay.
A Blues statement said:
“Unfortunately due to the poor start to the campaign which sees the club second from bottom of the Championship, we are left with no choice but to terminate the contract of the manager with immediate effect.
“We thank him for all his efforts and wish him good luck for the future. There will be no further comment at this time.”
Birmingham signed 14 players during the summer transfer window, but six defeats from their first eight league games in 2017-18 saw Redknapp become the first managerial casualty of the Championship season.
Birmingham are 23rd in the table after their first eight league games, above only winless, newly-promoted Bolton Wanderers.
Speaking after the loss to Preston but before his departure was announced, Redknapp told BBC WM 95.6: “Fans deserve better and that was my motivation to carry on this season.
“I do not come to work because I need the money, I enjoy the job and leaving home at 5.15 every morning. I would love to be the manager to bring some success to Birmingham.”
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