Wednesday 13 January 2016 12:10, UK
Roma have sacked French coach Rudi Garcia after a poor run of form, the Serie A club confirmed on Wednesday.
Roma won their first 10 league matches in 2013/14 and enjoyed two consecutive second-place finishes in Serie A, but Garcia leaves with the capital club fifth in the table, seven points behind leaders Napoli.
The final straw was last Saturday's 1-1 draw at home to AC Milan, which left Roma with just one win in their last 10 games in all competitions.
"AS Roma confirms that Rudi Garcia, and his assistants Frederic Bompard and Claude Fichaux, will cease to manage its first team with immediate effect," read a statement in English on the club's website. "Given recent results... the club have decided to move in a new direction."
Roma had briefly topped the table as champions Juventus faltered, allowing several clubs the opportunity stake their claim to be the first Serie A winner other than Juventus since 2011.
However, the Giallorossi have fallen away badly, and inconsistency in the Champions League meant that decision was an easy one for the Roma hierarchy.
"On behalf of myself and everyone at AS Roma, I'd like to thank Rudi Garcia for all of his hard work since joining the club," Roma president Jim Pallotta said.
"We've all enjoyed some great moments during his time at Roma but we believe that this is the right time for a change."
Garcia, 51, won the double in France in 2011 with Lille and became Roma coach in 2013.
The club are close to appointing Luciano Spalletti for a second spell in the Italian capital, according to media reports in Italy.
After briefly going to the top of Serie A early this season, Roma have slipped to fifth after one win in their last seven league games.
