TONY MOWBRAY HAS been sacked as manager of Championship club Middlesbrough — with Tony Pulis and Martin O’Neill the early frontrunners to replace him.
Mowbray had been in charge at the Riverside Stadium since 2010, but the former Celtic and West Bromwich Albion boss paid the price for a poor run of results this season.
Middlesbrough have won just two of their 12 second tier fixtures and were eliminated from the League Cup first round by League Two minnows Accrington.
Saturday’s 3-2 defeat at struggling Barnsley proved to be the last straw for chairman Steve Gibson, who was believed to be close to cutting his ties with Mowbray earlier this month.
That loss at Oakwell left Middlesbrough in 16th, 10 points adrift of the play-off places and just four points above third-bottom Barnsley.
During Mowbray’s reign, Middlesbrough rarely threatened to challenge for promotion to the Premier League, finishing 12th, seventh and then 16th last season.
The club confirmed that Mowbray’s assistant Mark Venus would take over from the 49-year-old until a permanent successor is appointed.
A statement on their official website read: “Middlesbrough Football Club have today announced that manager Tony Mowbray has left the club with immediate effect.
“Assistant manager Mark Venus will take charge of the team until further notice.
“The club would like to place on record their sincere thanks to Tony Mowbray for all of his substantial efforts, dedication and integrity.
“He leaves with the very best wishes of all at the club.”
Bookmakers Paddy Power have former Stoke boss Tony Pulis favourite for the role at 6/4 followed by O’Neill, who was touted as a candidate for the Ireland international job last month.
