Championship strugglers Preston North End have axed manager Darren Ferguson.
Ferguson, the son of Manchester United supremo Sir Alex, had been in charge at Deepdale since January and kept the club up last season, but they now sit bottom of the second tier following Tuesday’s 3-1 home defeat to Middlesbrough.
The Scot, who previously led Peterborough United to successive promotions form League Two up to the Championship, in the end won just 13 of 49 games in charge of Preston and the decision was taken on Wednesday to end his tenure ahead of the turn of the year.
A statement on Preston’s website read: “At a board meeting held today the directors of Preston North End decided to terminate the position of Darren Ferguson as manager.
“The club expressed their appreciation of the efforts made by Darren but felt that the league position represented a significant threat to the club and it was felt that a change of manager might bring better fortune.”
Ferguson’s sacking was the second in the Championship on Wednesday, coming just hours after the news broke that neighbours Burnley had dispensed of the services of Brian Laws, who was asked to step down by that club’s chairman.