Dowie sacked by QPR

Dowie: Axed

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Iain Dowie has been sacked as manager of Queens Park Rangers, with Gareth Ainsworth placed in caretaker charge.

The Championship club announced on their official website that Dowie's contract has been terminated with immediate effect.

The former Oldham, Crystal Palace, Charlton and Coventry manager only took charge at Loftus Road in the summer.

Rangers were tipped to be among the Championship pace-setters, especially given their new-found wealth after the arrival of Flavio Briatore as chairman and super-rich shareholder Lakshmi Mittal.

A run of just one victory in their last six league matches, against struggling Nottingham Forest, had seen Dowie's position come under increasing scrutiny.

And the club's board have now decided the time has come to act, despite giving Dowie just 15 games at the helm, during which he guided them to the last 16 of the Carling Cup.

Terminated

The club statement 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 Rs 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."

Ainsworth's first match at the helm will come against Reading at the Madejski Stadium on Saturday evening, live on Sky Sports 1 and HD1.