West Ham United have announced that they have parted company with manager Slaven Bilic.
After Saturday's 4-1 defeat at home to Liverpool, speculation was rife that Bilic would be removed from his role in the dugout with the Hammers sitting in 18th place in the Premier League table.
The East London outfit have now confirmed that they have decided to sack Bilic, saying that a change had become "necessary" in order to move the club forward.
A statement read: "West Ham United can confirm that Slaven Bilic has today left his position with the club.
"The chairmen and board of West Ham United would like to place on record their thanks and gratitude to Slaven and his team for their services over the past two-and-a-half years, but believe a change is now necessary in order for the club to move forward positively and in line with their ambition.
"West Ham United can confirm that Bilic's coaching assistants Nikola Jurcevic, Edin Terzic, Julian Dicks and Miljenko Rak have also left the club with immediate effect.
"The club's search for a new manager to take West Ham United forward is underway and an announcement regarding Bilic's successor is expected to be made over the coming days."
Bilic was named as West Ham boss in June 2015, with the Croatian going on to win 42 of his 111 games in charge in all competitions.
Reports have suggested that former Manchester United and Everton manager David Moyes has already been lined up as Bilic's replacement.
Darren Plant
