Thursday 21 December 2017 10:41, UK
Swansea have sacked head coach Paul Clement, the Premier League club announced on Wednesday.
Clement joined Swansea in January and successfully guided the club to Premier League safety.
However, after losing nine of his last 11 games, Clement has became the sixth Premier League boss to lose their job this season with Swansea bottom of the Premier League.
The club confirmed in a statement that assistant managers Nigel Gibbs and Karl Halabi have also left the club.
Swansea City chairman, Huw Jenkins, confirmed: "To change the manager, especially at only the halfway point of the season, is the last thing we wanted to do as a club.
"We had three different managers last season and as a result we all wanted to give Paul as much time as possible to turn things around.
"But we felt we couldn't leave it any longer and needed to make a change to give us the best chance of an uplift and a turnaround in fortunes with the club bottom of the Premier League.
"Paul has been at the club for 12 months and what he achieved in the second half of last season to keep us in the top flight was a tremendous feat. For that, and his effort and commitment this season, it goes without saying that the club thanks him for his work, together with Nigel (Gibbs) and Karl (Halabi).
"I have had an excellent working relationship with Paul and we are all, including the owners, surprised and disappointed it hasn't worked out this season.
"We wish Paul every success in his career going forward.''
Speaking on Wednesday prior to his dismissal, Clement was confident he would be given more time to turn around the club's fortunes.
"I have always had an open dialect with the ownership group here and the chairman - a good relationship," said Clement.
"I know what football is about. It is about getting results and winning. I'm sure if I can get the team to do that then I am going to be okay here."
The club expect to give fans an update regarding Clement and his team's replacements in the next 24 hours, with Swansea's next game coming against relegation rivals Crystal Palace on Saturday.
