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LONDON (Reuters) - Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane was sacked as manager of Ipswich Town on Friday after a poor run of results, the English Championship (second division) club said.
Ipswich travel to Premier League champions and FA Cup holders Chelsea in the third round of the Cup on Sunday, where they will be led by first team coach Ian McParland, who has been appointed caretaker manager.
The 39-year-old Keane, who had been at Ipswich since April 2009, leaves with the club sitting 19th in the 24-team league after seven defeats in their last nine games.
"We have taken the decision now to terminate his contract having reached the halfway point in the season," chief executive Simon Clegg told a news conference.
"As he (Keane) has said himself on a number of occasions, the performances on the pitch since November have simply not been good enough. In spite investment in the playing staff and a lack of improvement on the pitch, the results speak for themselves."
Former Ireland midfielder Keane's departure comes less than a week before Ipswich host Arsenal in the first leg of their League Cup semi-final and it was unclear whether a new manager will have been appointed by then.
"I hope to be in a position to make an announcement regarding the new manager over the coming days," said Clegg.
(Writing by Sonia Oxley; Editing by Mitch Phillips; To comment on this story: sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
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Ipswich travel to Premier League champions and FA Cup holders Chelsea in the third round of the Cup on Sunday, where they will be led by first team coach Ian McParland, who has been appointed caretaker manager.
The 39-year-old Keane, who had been at Ipswich since April 2009, leaves with the club sitting 19th in the 24-team league after seven defeats in their last nine games.
"We have taken the decision now to terminate his contract having reached the halfway point in the season," chief executive Simon Clegg told a news conference.
"As he (Keane) has said himself on a number of occasions, the performances on the pitch since November have simply not been good enough. In spite investment in the playing staff and a lack of improvement on the pitch, the results speak for themselves."
Former Ireland midfielder Keane's departure comes less than a week before Ipswich host Arsenal in the first leg of their League Cup semi-final and it was unclear whether a new manager will have been appointed by then.
"I hope to be in a position to make an announcement regarding the new manager over the coming days," said Clegg.
(Writing by Sonia Oxley; Editing by Mitch Phillips; To comment on this story: sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
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