Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins has admitted the decision to part company with manager Michael Laudrup was "taken reluctantly" but believes it is in the best interests of the club.
The Dane has left the Swans with immediate effect on Tuesday night with veteran defender Garry Monk and first-team coach Alan Curtis to take charge of the team ahead of Saturday's clash with rivals Cardiff.
The news ends considerable speculation over Laudrup's position, which had been growing since last weekend's loss to West Ham.
The Capital One Cup-winning boss' relationship with the club had reportedly been strained since a major disagreement over transfer policy last summer.
Laudrup's final 10 games with Swansea included just one win
The 49-year-old had also been under increasing pressure after a run of just one win in 10 Barclays Premier League matches left the Swans just two points above the relegation zone.
Jenkins said: "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.
"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.
"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."
Laudrup is the 29th managerial casualty of the campaign...