Inverness Caledonian Thistle have parted company with manager Craig Brewster after a run of seven consecutive league defeats.
The Highland club sit bottom of the Scottish Premier League table, one point adrift of 11th-placed Falkirk.
Brewster was in his second spell at the club, having resumed control of the team in August 2007.
The 42-year-old enjoyed a successful stint as player-manager before leaving for Dundee United in January 2006.
A miserable run at Tannadice ended after just three victories in 10 months and Brewster signed on as a player with Aberdeen before his return to the Caledonian Stadium.
Assistant manager Malcolm Thomson has also been asked to leave, with football director Graeme Bennett taking over on a temporary basis, along with first team coach John Docherty and goalkeeping coach Stuart Garden.
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Chairman George Fraser said: "This decision was not taken lightly but we feel it is in the best interests of the club looking forward.
"We thank Craig and Malcolm for their endeavours and extend our best wishes to both for their future.
"The process of identifying a new management team is under way with the target of an early appointment geared to ensuring that the club retains its SPL status for the 2009-10 season."
Just one of the five league wins for Inverness this season has come at home and fans have been disgruntled for some time.
The board backed Brewster with money for four new signings this month, Pavels Mihadjuks, Thierry Gatheussi, Filipe Morais and Richie Byrne, and there was some respite from the gloom after a Scottish Cup win over Partick Thistle.
However, the losing streak continued in the league with a 1-0 defeat at Hamilton Accies on Saturday.
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