Mick McCarthy was this morning sacked as APOEL manager just two months and nine games into a miserable spell in Cyprus.
The former Republic of Ireland boss who was APOEL’s 13th manager in six years - shipped a fourth defeat in-a-row last night when losing 2-1 away to Doxas Katokopia.
APOEL said in a statement: “The company APOEL FOOTBALL (PUBLIC) LTD announces the end of its cooperation with coach Mick McCarthy.
“We wish Mr. McCarthy and his assistant Terry Connor good luck.”
Immediately after last night’s game, McCarthy said: "It’s becoming more and more difficult for me to come here and talk.
“A fourth consecutive defeat is not acceptable for APOEL.”
The decision to sack McCarthy will come as a blow to Jack Byrne, who only completed his move to APOEL on Monday and made his debut in Wednesday's game.
Incredibly the former Shamrock Rovers star finds himself in a very similar situation to the one McCarthy faced after signing for Celtic in 1987.
The Yorkshire native was brought to Glasgow by then Hoops manager Davie Hay, who was sacked just days after McCarthy signed for the club.
Despite this McCarthy went on to enjoy great success with Celtic.
He was part of the team that won a historic League Cup and Scottish Cup double in the club's centenary year in 1988, with the Hoops winning the Scottish Cup again in 1989.
Previously speaking about the defender, Hay said: "McCarthy signed but I left the club the following week and so I never got the chance to work with him. But he became an integral part of that centenary double-winning side the following year."
McCarthy and assistant Terry Connor only joined Cypriot football’s most successful club in November but have endured a torrid time.
He failed to turn their fortunes around as APOEL are languishing 11th in the 14-team top flight.
Last night’s defeat to Doxas left them just four points off basement boys Enosis Paralimni and McCarthy had won just three of his nine games.
Former Rovers star Byrne will hope to win his first start for his new club when they host Ermis Aradippou - one point ahead of them in the table - on Saturday.
One of Byrne’s reasons for moving to Cyprus this week was the chance to join forces with McCarthy again, as he capped him first for Ireland.
