Fireman Felix fails to fight Fulham flames and is sacked

Championship strugglers Fulham (9/2 to be relegated) have announced the sacking of manager Felix Magath. The news follows the departure of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at fellow recently relegated club Cardiff City, just hours before.

On their official website, the Cottagers announced: “Fulham chairman Shahid Khan today named Kit Symons as caretaker manager of Fulham Football Club and will personally and immediately lead a thorough search for the new first team manager of the club.”

Khan, meanwhile, said: “This is an unfortunate but necessary change. I am doing what I feel is right and needed for Fulham Football Club, for today as well as tomorrow.

“I thank our supporters for standing by us during these most difficult of times on the pitch, and promise better days ahead.”

The Cottagers have decided to take the decision after the German won just four of his 20 games in charge, since taking over from Rene Meulensteen in February, and gained one point this season.

Magath’s final moment as Fulham boss was the unfortunate loss to table-toppers Nottingham Forest, where they came from 2-0 down to go 3-2 up, before losing 5-3.

Following the game, the former Bayern Munich boss, 61, said: “It is a catastrophe. I have never had that before in my career and I am very sorry for our fans.

“I ask for patience from the fans. I have no doubt we can get up the table.

“We were very unlucky, we played a good game but things were not good enough for us.

“We should have had a fourth goal when we were 3-2 up and the game would be done but we didn’t and we made one mistake and they equalise and it revived them.

“I am very sad and think all the time about our performance and playing style.

“Rebuilding is always difficult, but I don’t think about my position. I just work with my team.