Queens Park Rangers have sacked their manager John Gregory this morning after their disastrous start to the season.

QPR were thrashed 5-1 by West Bromwich Albion on Sunday and are currently three points adrift at the bottom of the Championship table.

They are the only club in any of the top four divisions without a win, and have collected just three points from their opening seven matches.

“The performances and results this season have not met with out expectations," Gianni Paladini, the QPR chairman, said. "The league table does not lie.”

Mick Harford, the first-team coach, has been appointed caretaker manager and will be in charge when Rangers face Colchester United at Layer Road on Wednesday, though the club is hopeful of having a permanent replacement in time for the visit of Norwich on October 8.

Gregory, 53, took over in September 2006 and saved the club from relegation last season but has paid for a wretched start to this campaign which has been overshadowed by takeover talk and tragedy.

Rangers have scored just once at Loftus Road in the league so far and are still reeling from the death of teenage striker Ray Jones in a car accident.

The cash-strapped London side have been linked with a takeover by the boss of the Renault Formula One team Flavio Briatore and F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, but a firm bid has yet to materialise.

Paladini added: “The club would like to thank John for everything he has done during a difficult period as manager, in particular for saving us from relegation last season.

“However the performances and results this season have not met our expectations. The league table does not lie. The club have decided to act swiftly in time to turn things around for the remainder of the season.

“Mick [Harford] will be caretaker manager for Wednesday’s away game at Colchester and a further announcement about the post will be made after that.”

Gerry Francis, the former Rangers manager, thought Gregory would have been given more time to turn the club’s fortunes around. “I felt he would have had a few more games to get himself out of the situation, but that’s football," he said.

“The most important thing is there is investment in the club because that’s been very difficult for John and the managers before him. You need the financial backing and the financial help because you need to get players capable of performing at a certain level.”