Scolari Sacked !

Chelsea have sacked manager Luiz Felipe Scolari in the wake of their 0-0 draw at home to Hull City.

The Blues have dropped 16 points at Stamford Bridge this season and went out of the Carling Cup to Burnley on their own patch.

The London side have recently dropped to fourth in the Barclays Premier League prompting the club to opt for change, with coach Ray Wilkins taking temporary charge.

Only Option

A statement on the club web site confirmed: "Luiz Felipe Scolari has been dismissed as manager of Chelsea Football Club today (Monday) with immediate effect.

"The Chelsea board would like to place on record our gratitude for his time as manager.

"Felipe has brought many positives to the club since he joined and we all feel a sense of sadness that our relationship has ended so soon.

"Unfortunately the results and performances of the team appeared to be deteriorating at a key time in the season.

"In order to maintain a challenge for the trophies we are still competing for we felt the only option was to make the change now.

"The search for a new manager has already started and we hope to have someone in place as soon as possible.

"While that continues Assistant Coach Ray Wilkins will take charge of the team on a temporary basis."

New Record

Brazilian Scolari, 60, was appointed last summer as the replacement for Avram Grant.

He led his country to World Cup glory in 2002 before taking charge of Portugal for Euro 2004, leading them to the semi-finals of the World Cup in 2006.

Scolari twice turned down approaches about the possibility of becoming England manager and during Euro 2008 it was confirmed he would take charge at Chelsea for the start of this season.

He led Chelsea to a 4-0 win over Portsmouth in his first Barclays Premier League match and followed that with a 1-0 victory at Wigan Athletic - the first of 11 consecutive away successes, a new Premier League record.

Scolari suffered his first league defeat on 26th October as Liverpool ended their 86-match unbeaten home league record with a 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge.

A month later Chelsea crashed out of the Carling Cup beaten on penalties by Championship side Burnley and in December they only secured qualification for the Champions League knockout stages in the final match after beating CFR Cluj 2-1 at Stamford Bridge.

The New Year has already brought defeats by title rivals Manchester United and Liverpool as well as seeing them held 1-1 at Stamford Bridge by Southend United in the FA Cup.

The failure to beat Hull City at Stamford Bridge coupled with a negative reaction from the fans proved to be the final straw as the London side bid to salvage their title challenge as well as their Champions League and FA Cup campaigns.

Source by Premier League.com