Sunderland have sacked manager Jack Ross.
The Black Cats missed out on promotion from League One at the first attempt last year and their weekend defeat to Lincoln leaves them sixth in the table.
A club statement read: "Sunderland AFC announced this afternoon that it had terminated the contract of manager Jack Ross.
"SAFC chairman Stewart Donald said: 'This is a decision that has been made with a heavy heart. When we arrived at the club 18 months ago, we appointed Jack because we felt that he was the right man to take Sunderland forward over a number of years.
"'Jack has worked extremely hard, and has helped us achieve stability at the club, and I sincerely thank him for his efforts. I hope and believe that he will go on to have a successful career in management.'
"Assistant manager James Fowler has been placed in temporary charge of first team affairs and will oversee this evening’s home game against Grimsby Town in the leasing.com Trophy. The process to appoint a new Sunderland manager will commence tomorrow."
Former Alloa Athletic and St Mirren manager took over at the Stadium of Light in the wake of their second successive relegation in May 2018.
The 2017/18 PFA Scottish Manager of the Year was linked with a move to Ipswich Town before opting to try and lead Sunderland's revival having dropped from the Premier League to League One.
He led the club to the final of the EFL Trophy, suffering a heartbreaking penalty shoot-out defeat to Portsmouth.
They returned to Wembley in the play-off final at the end of the season, missing out on promotion after a 94th minute Charlton winner.
