Bristol City confirm Steve Cotterill sacking

Bristol City have confirmed that they have sacked manager Steve Cotterill.

Reports emerged earlier this evening that the 51-year-old's time at the club had come to an end after their 2-1 defeat to Preston North End on Tuesday made it seven matches without a win in all competitions.

Cotterill was in charge of the club for just over two years, saving them from back-to-back relegations in 2013-14 before steering them to their first league title in 60 years on their way back to the Championship last term.

"I brought Steve Cotterill into Bristol City just over two years ago as I believed he could keep us in League One that year and build from there," chairman Keith Dawe said in a statement.

"Steve did keep us in the division and went on, in conjunction with the rest of the organisation, to deliver a League One championship and Johnstone's Paint Trophy. That season will live in the memory for a long time. Sadly, since the highs of last March and May things have not gone our way on the pitch and Steve has now left the club.

"I thank Steve Cotterill for all his efforts over the last two seasons. Sadly we haven't managed to push on from last season and the time has come for us to all move forward. The club's aspiration is to ultimately become a Premier League club and this decision has been made to achieve our overall strategy for growth and player development."

Assistant manager John Pemberton and Under-21 boss Wade Elliott will take charge of the team, who currently sit 22nd in the Championship table, until a new manager is found.

City's next match sees them host league leaders Middlesbrough on Saturday.