Blackburn Rovers have announced that manager Owen Coyle has left the club "by mutual agreement."
Former Burnley manager Coyle, appointed to the Ewood Park job in the summer, has seen his team struggle in the Championship.
They are currently in the relegation zone, and a statement on the Blackburn website said the decision for him to leave had "been taken in order to give the club the best possible chance of climbing to a position of safety in the Championship in the remaining 15 games, which start with the big trip to Burton Albion on Friday."
Rovers part company with Owen Coylehttps://t.co/7hxJF8rLrn
- Blackburn Rovers (@Rovers) February 21, 2017
Coyle's assistant Sandy Stewart, first team coach John Henry and goalkeeping coach Phil Hughes have also left, and the statement said Rovers "would like to place on record its thanks to Owen and his staff for all their efforts this season and wish them well for the future."
Blackburn produced a credible performance at home to Manchester United in the FA Cup fifth round on Sunday, leading 1-0 before losing 2-1 at Ewood Park.
The club said the hunt for a new manager would begin "with immediate effect" and added that no further comment would be made.