Lawrie Sanchez has left Fulham with "immediate effect" according to a statement on the club's website. Ray Lewington and Billy McKinlay have been placed in temporary charge of team affairs whilst a search for a replacement manager takes place.

The statement read: "Following a run of disappointing results the club is languishing in the relegation zone of the Premier League table, and losing its Premiership status is a proposition that simply can not be contemplated at this stage in the club’s on-going development.

"The club is confident that it will find the right replacement to increase its chances of remaining in the Premiership, which is of vital importance.

"The club would like to thank Lawrie for helping the club through a difficult period at the end of last season, and thank him for his service over the last eight months."

Sanchez was appointed on a caretaker basis after the departure of Chris Coleman last season and given the job full-time in May, after relinquishing his role as Northern Ireland manager.

Fulham have only won two league games this season and a 1-0 defeat to Newcastle United on Saturday left them in the relegation zone with just 13 points from 17 games.

Sanchez's departure comes a day after John Collins' sudden resignation as Hibernian manager and the odds on the former Fulham midfielder getting the Craven Cottage job have dropped to 1-4.