MIDDLESBROUGH have sacked manager Chris Wilder after 11 months in charge on Teesside. 

A troubling start to the season has left them in the Championship relegation zone. After a summer where Boro were billed to be one of the big hitters in the Championship with Wilder expected to spearhead a push for promotion, they have won just two games from 11 this season leaving them in the bottom three forcing chairman Steve Gibson into a reluctant change.

Wilder took over in November last year following the sacking of Neil Warnock and won six of his first nine games in charge of the club. He went on to steer the side into a play-off chase as they won eight home games in a row in a run of form that took them to March.

The former Sheffield United boss also managed the side to famous FA Cup victories over Manchester United at Old Trafford and Tottenham Hotspur to reach the last eight of the competition.

However, Boro’s form began to falter towards the end of the season as a five match winning run weakened their position in the top six. Meanwhile, Wilder refused to rule out a possible move to Burnley at the beginning of April after being installed as the early favourite to take over at Turf Moor only to reassure fans his future was remaining on Teesside a week later.

Boro took their chase for a play-off spot to the final day but a 4-1 defeat to Preston North End saw them finish in seventh place in the table.

After a pre-season of rebuilding with Boro making ten new signing over the summer, their season to date has fallen drastically short of expectation. Wilder’s last game in charge was the 1-0 defeat to Coventry City at the weekend.

A club statement read ‘Middlesbrough Football Club’ have terminated the contract of manager Chris Wilder with immediate effect.

‘Leo Percovich will take over first team affairs in the interim basis, assisted by Craig Liddle, Mar Tinkler and Lee Cattermole.

‘The club would like to place on record it’s thanks Chris and his staff for all their hard work over the past 11 months.’

Percovich will assume his new role on Wednesday when Boro host Birmingham City at the Riverside Stadium.