Thursday 22 December 2016 17:01, UK
Alan Pardew has been sacked by Crystal Palace after two years in charge at Selhurst Park.
Pardew steered the Eagles from 18th to 10th place after taking the reins in January 2015, but their form nosedived after a strong start to the 2015/16 season.
They did reach the FA Cup final, where they were beaten in extra-time by Manchester United, but they finished the Premier League season in 15th place despite occupying the European places earlier in the campaign.
The drop-off in form continued this season, and Pardew departs with the club hovering just above the relegation zone having taken just 15 points from their first 17 games.
It added up to the worst record of any side in England's top four tiers in 2016. With six wins, eight draws and 22 losses from 36 Premier League games, Palace took 26 points at an average of just 0.72 per game.
The numbers are all the more damning when considering that Palace averaged 1.68 points per game under Pardew in 2015, with 19 wins, five draws and 13 losses from 37 Premier League games.
It was not the first time one of Pardew's teams have suffered a dramatic loss of form. The 55-year-old steered Newcastle to a fifth-placed finish in 2011/12 - his first full season at St James' Park - but they plummeted to 16th in 2012/13.
Newcastle then rose to sixth place at the midway point of the 2013/14 season, but another drop-off in performances saw them finish the campaign in 10th.
With the threat of a relegation battle looming at Palace, Pardew's latest drop-off proved too much for chairman Steve Parish. The Eagles will be hoping there are happier times ahead in 2017.
