PREMIER LEAGUE
Leicester City sack manager Craig Shakespeare
Leicester City sacked boss Shakespeare on Tuesday after just four months in full-time charge of the 2015/16 Premier League champions.
Leicester City have sacked manager Craig Shakespeare after just four months in permanent charge, the Premier League club have announced.
Shakespeare, who was assistant to Claudio Ranieri during Leicester's title-winning campaign in 2015/16, leaves his post with the side third from bottom in the English top flight.
His number two, Michael Appleton, will oversee Saturday's league clash at Swansea City, alongside first-team coaches Mike Stowell and Adam Sadler.
Foxes have won just once in the Premier League this season
Shakespeare took over as caretaker boss following Ranieri's departure in February, leading the Foxes away from relegation danger to a 12th-placed finish last term.
The 53-year-old was then given the job full-time in June, but Leicester have struggled this season, winning just one game so far in the Premier League.
A Riyad Mahrez strike saved Leicester from defeat against West Brom on Monday night and, while it was believed that Shakespeare was in trouble, his job was not thought to be under immediate threat.
However, after widespread reports of Shakespeare's sacking throughout the afternoon, the club released a statement confirming the news on Tuesday.
Leicester vice-chairman: "A change is necessary"
"Craig has been a great servant to Leicester City – during his spells as an Assistant Manager and since taking over as Manager in challenging circumstances in February," said Leicester City vice-chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha.
"His dedication to the Club and to his work has been absolute and the contribution he made to the most successful period in Leicester City history is considerable.
"However, our early promise under Craig's management has not been consistently evident in the months since and the Board feels that, regrettably, a change is necessary to keep the Club moving forward".