Chelsea have sacked Luiz Felipe Scolari after Saturday's goalless draw against Hull.
After a promising start to the season which saw the Brazilian praised for the way he had turned an efficient but uninspiring Blues team into Premier League entertainers.
But since losing their impregnable home record to Liverpool, when Rafa Benitez's side became the first to leave with three points since February 2004, Chelsea's title bid has stalled.
Saturday's goalless draw against Hull, whose own early season promise has also evaporated, saw fans chanting "You don't know what you're doing" at a manager who won the World Cup with Brazil.
That result saw Chelsea drop to fourth, two points behind Aston Villa, and the club today announced the end of Scolari's seven month reign. Assistant boss Ray Wilkins will take temporary charge.
A statement on the Chelsea website says: "Luiz Felipe Scolari has been dismissed as manager of Chelsea Football Club today with immediate effect.
"The Chelsea board would like to place on record our gratitude for his time as manager.
"Felipe has brought many positives to the club since he joined and we all feel a sense of sadness that our relationship has ended so soon.
"Unfortunately the results and performances of the team appeared to be deteriorating at a key time in the season.
"In order to maintain a challenge for the trophies we are still competing for we felt the only option was to make the change now.
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"The search for a new manager has already started and we hope to have someone in place as soon as possible."
Early contenders to replace Scolari include Guus Hiddink and a shock return for Avram Grant, who took Chelsea to the Champions League final after the sacking of Jose Mourinho last season.
In his 36 games in charge, Scolari claimed 20 wins and five draws but was defeated 11 times and could not mastermind a Premier League win over Arsenal, Manchester United or Liverpool.
Scolari said tonight: "I wish luck to Chelsea in the three competitions they are involved in. I will keep living in London and will respond to the media soon."
In the meantime Scolari's spokesman Acaz Fellegger has put the blame for the manager's departure on Roman Abramovich.
He said: "It seems that Abramovich made the decision.
"He (Scolari) was not in a comfortable situation despite having the support of the squad and Peter Kenyon.
"The Chelsea squad are old. Felipe tried to rejuvenate it, but unsuccessfully. He asked (the board) to sign Deco and Robinho, but they only brought Deco.
"The English language has never been an issue for him as he has given many interviews in English."
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