LONDON (AFP) - Wolverhampton manager Dave Jones has been sacked by the Championship club and his assistant Stuart Gray appointed caretaker boss.
Jones, appointed in January 2001, had steered the club into the Premiership following a 3-0 play-off final victory over Sheffield United in May 2003.
But following relegation from the Premiership at the end of last season, Jones has failed to produce a promotion push this time around with Wolves currently languishing 19th in the table.
Chairman Rick Hayward said: "We will always be grateful to Dave for the success he achieved in winning promotion to the Premiership - something several managers before him had failed to do.
"However, having been relegated after just one season in the top flight, the board has been disappointed by the poor start to this campaign.
"It was our wish and intention to make a quick return to the Premiership but performances and results to date have left us off the pace by some margin.
"Therefore, we decided action was needed in order to try to get the season back on track before it is too late."
The club are currently four points above the relegation zone after the weekend's 1-0 defeat to 10-man and second-bottom Gillingham.
11/01/2004 - 11:46 GMT - AFP