Ayr United are on the hunt for their fourth manager in a year after parting company with Jim Duffy, the Ayrshire Post understands.
The veteran boss has lasted less than three months in the Somerset hot seat following a horror run of just one win in 12 league games.
Duffy, 62, took charge of the Honest Men on October 1 after stepping into the breach vacated by David Hopkin.
But United were thumped 4-0 at Partick Thistle just 24 hours later and results have failed to pick up ever since, leaving Ayr two points off the foot of the cinch Championship table.
The Ayrshire Post understands the United board and new managing director, Graeme Mathie, had been keen to give Duffy funds in the upcoming January transfer window to try and arrest the slide.
But Saturday's capitulation at fellow strugglers Queen of the South left them alarmed and has forced earlier action.
Mathie, who was only appointed to his new brief last Tuesday, has now been charged with performing surgery on the club's management team going into the second half of the season.
United's Football Academy chief, Davie White, will lead the team on an interim basis, starting with the Boxing Day clash at home to Raith Rovers.
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