Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson has launched a search for a new manager after reluctantly sacking Gareth Southgate.
Gibson wielded the axe just hours after the Teessiders had ended a run of three successive home defeats with a 2-0 victory over Derby which left them a point off the top of the Coca-Cola Championship table.
Gibson said: "This has been the most difficult decision I have had to make in all the time I have been in football.
"Gareth has given Middlesbrough magnificent service as a skipper and, in very difficult circumstances, as manager. I appointed Gareth in a situation that was greatly unfavourable to him.
"He is a good man and has all the qualities and integrity that we wanted in a manager. However, the time is right for change and that change has had to be made. Gareth will always be welcome at our club.
"He deserves another opportunity once he has had the chance to rest and refresh himself."
Speculation had been rife for days that Southgate, who was appointed as Steve McClaren's successor during the summer of 2006, could be heading for the exit door with sections of the club's support in open revolt. Indeed, a crowd of just 17,459 turned out to see Adam Johnson shoot down the Rams with a double either side of half-time.
Southgate kept the club in the top flight with 12th- and 13th-place finishes respectively in his first two seasons at the helm but was unable to prevent them from slipping into the Championship at the end of the last campaign.
