Championship side Middlesbrough have sacked manager Garry Monk, despite Saturday afternoon's victory over Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough.
Pressure had been building on the 38-year-old, who took charge in the summer with the task of taking the Smoggies straight back to the Premier League.
Nine wins in 22 league games led to reports that defeat away to Wednesday would spell the end of Monk's time at the Riverside Stadium, though he saw his side battle to a 2-1 win - Jonny Howson and Ryan Shotton scoring the goals to help overturn a one-goal deficit.
Less than five hours after full time in South Yorkshire, however, Middlesbrough announced via their official Twitter feed that the former Swansea City and Leeds United boss has been dismissed.
Middlesbrough, without back-to-back wins since the start of November, are currently ninth in the second tier and three points adrift of the playoffs.
Academy chief Craig Liddle will take charge for the Boxing Day visit of Bolton Wanderers.
Daniel Lewis
