Iain Dowie has become the first Coca-Cola Championship manager to lose his job this season after mega-rich Queens Park Rangers terminated his contract today with immediate effect.
Dowie who has also enjoyed spells in charge of Oldham, Crystal Palace(who he led to the Premier League) and Coventry was appointed Rangers manager in the summer when the club were taken over by billionaires Bernie Ecclestone, Flavio Briatore and Lakshmi Mittal but has paid the price for being ninth in the league despite the new owners demanding promotion.
QPR started off the season in fine form as they beat Barnsley 2-1 on the opening day of the season but have won one of their last five games and are nine points off league leaders Birmingham City.
A statement on the Official QPR website read:
The Board of Queens Park Rangers Football Club has terminated the contract of Manager Iain Dowie with immediate effect.
Dowie, who took over the reins at Loftus Road in the summer, oversaw 15 matches in charge in all competitions and leaves the R's in ninth place in the Coca Cola Championship.
Player / Coach Gareth Ainsworth has been appointed Caretaker Manager on a temporary basis and will take charge of First Team affairs until further notice.