Leicester City sacked manager Craig Shakespeare after he had taken charge for a friendly.
The Daily Mail says sporting director Jon Rudkin dismissed Shakespeare at the club's Belvoir Drive training ground having allowed him to take charge of a friendly against Nottingham Forest.
Senior players were seen cheerily chatting to Shakespeare as the game, featuring squad members, took place but had left by the time the 53-year-old learned his fate at 2.30pm.
Many players only learned of the decision after reading the news online.
Assistant Michael Appleton will take charge for Leicester's game at Swansea on Saturday as the hunt for a permanent replacement begins.