Coventry have sacked manager Chris Coleman with immediate effect following a board meeting on Monday night. The Welshman took charge at the Ricoh Arena in February 2008, but the club have failed to progress under his tenure.

But chairman Ray Ranson has taken the decision to part company after the club's disappointing end to the campaign - sliding from play-off contenders in mi-March to end the season winless in 11 and eventually finish 19th.

Ranson said: "It is true I enjoyed a very close working relationship with Chris and it's been a pleasure to work with him since his arrival in February 2008.

"The board would like to place on record their thanks for his efforts over two and a half years.

"We will not be rushed into finding a successor and the board will explore every avenue to appoint the right manager to take Coventry City Football Club forward."

Speaking after his side's abject display against the Hornets at the weekend, Coleman admitted he was not getting things right but felt the blame could not be laid solely at his feet.

He said: "I'm doing something wrong - I am - but it's not all just me making mistakes as a manager. I've got a great staff who work very hard but we need to make changes and that was evident in the game.

"There were no positives to that, not one. It was an embarrassing end to the season for us. It was the worst possible way to go out.

"It is not good enough and I apologise. The players went out after the game to say thank you to the supporters but if I had been a supporter, I would have gone. In fact, I would have gone before the end."