Burnley have sacked manager Sean Dyche after nine-and-a-half years in charge at Turf Moor.
The surprise news comes with Burnley sitting 18th in the Premier League table, four points adrift of safety with eight games of the season remaining.
The Clarets have lost five of their last six outings, with last weekend’s 2-0 loss away to bottom-of-the-table Norwich City proving to be Dyche’s final game in charge of the club.
Assistant manager Ian Woan, first-team coach Steve Stone and goalkeeping coach Billy Mercer have also left the club along with Dyche, just two days before a Premier League meeting with West Ham United.
“Firstly, we would like to place on record our sincere thanks to Sean and his staff for their achievements at the club over the last decade,” Burnley chairman Alan Pace said in a statement on the club’s official website.
“During his time at Turf Moor, Sean has been a credit both on and off the pitch, respected by players, staff, supporters, and the wider football community.
“However, results this season have been disappointing and, while this was an incredibly difficult decision, with eight crucial games of the campaign remaining, we feel a change is needed to give the squad the best possible chance of retaining its Premier League status.
“The process of replacing Sean has begun and further announcements will be made to supporters in due course.”
Dyche had been the longest-serving manager in the Premier League, and the third-longest serving boss in the entire Football League, having taken over at Burnley in October 2012.
During his time at Turf Moor, the 50-year-old led Burnley to two promotions from the Championship and two top-half finishes in the Premier League.
The 2017-18 campaign saw Burnley finish seventh in the top flight – their highest finish since 1973-74 – and also qualify for Europe for the first time in 51 years.
In all, Dyche oversaw 425 games as Burnley manager, winning 149, drawing 118 and losing 158 of those to leave with a 35.1% win percentage.
The Englishman won the Premier League Manager of the Month award twice during his near-decade-long tenure, doing so in March 2018 and February 2020.
However, the Clarets have won just four of their 30 Premier League outings this season – fewer than any other team in the league – while only rock-bottom Norwich City have scored fewer goals.
As a result, Burnley’s six-year stay in the top flight is in danger of coming to an end, with only eight games left to save their season.
After facing West Ham on Sunday, Burnley take on Southampton, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Watford, Aston Villa (twice), Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United in their final seven games of 2021-22.
