Michael Laudrup was told he had been sacked by Swansea City after he returned from a two-day trip to Paris over the weekend.
Laudrup's relationship with Swans chairman Huw Jenkins had disintegrated since their confrontation over the club's transfer policy in the summer, and further details have emerged of an alleged "lack of motivation" from the Dane.
Weeks after police were called to the club's training ground following an altercation between defenders Chico Flores and Garry Monk, it has been reported players complained they were motivating themselves, despite the team's poor run.
Laudrup guided Swansea to their first ever major trophy last season
Laudrup's stint at the Liberty Stadium ended with just one Premier League win from his final 10 games. Although the club have reached the fifth round of the FA Cup - where they will travel to Everton next week - Swansea are just two points clear of the relegation zone.
Despite the feckless 2-0 defeat at West Ham on Saturday, Laudrup gave the players two days off and headed to Paris. That compelled Jenkins to sack him now, even though he will have to pay the 49-year-old £4.5 million in compensation.
"It is a decision we have taken reluctantly, but it's a decision made in the best interests of Swansea City Football Club and our supporters," Jenkins said.
"It is the first time in nearly 10 years that the club has parted with a manager in this way, but we had to remove the constant uncertainty surrounding the club and Michael's long-term future with us.
Michael Laudrup
"I had a meeting with Michael today in a final attempt to support him and establish a way to improve the work of the backroom team to secure the results we need over the final 14 Premier League games.
"However, after thinking long and hard about the best way forward, I felt it was unlikely we would achieve a stable environment at the club to allow us to get back to basics and produce the performance levels that have served Swansea City so well over the last few years."
Graeme Jones, Roberto Martínez's assistant at Swansea and now at Everton, is hotly tipped to replace Laudrup.