Claudio Ranieri sacked by Fulham

Claudio Ranieri has been sacked as Fulham manager after barely three months in charge of the Craven Cottage club.

The Italian’s assistant Scott Parker has been named as caretaker manager, the Premier League outfit have announced.

Fulham were beaten 2-0 by relegation rivals Southampton on Wednesday. It was their fourth straight league defeat and leaves them second from bottom of the able, ten points from safety with ten games remaining.

Reports on Thursday suggested Ranieri, appointed in November, was set for showdown talks with the club’s hierarchy – CEO Alistair Mackintosh and vice-chairman Tony Khan – after which he was expected to lose his job.

Ranieri is the second manager sacked by Fulham this season following on from the dismissal of Slavisa Jakanovic who made a slow start to the season having guided the team to promotion last term.

Ranieri famously steered Leicester to the Premier League title in 2016, one of the greatest sporting achievements of modern times, but he was axed the next season after underwhelming performances left the Foxes languishing near the bottom of the table.

Former England international Parker played for Fulham for three seasons at the end of his career and this is his maiden crack at first-team management.

Chairman Shad Khan said in a statement: “Following our discussion this afternoon, Claudio Ranieri agreed to my decision that a change was in the best interest of everyone.

“Claudio’s tenure at Fulham didn’t produce the outcome we anticipated and needed when I appointed him as manager in November but, be assured, he is not solely to blame for the position we are in today.”