SUNDERLAND have sacked manager Micheal Beale.
It is the second time the Black Cats have axed their boss this season after Tony Mowbray was dismissed in December.
Beale lasted just 12 games in charge of the club.
He has overseen four wins, two draws and six losses.
His sacking comes after a 2-1 defeat to Birmingham on Saturday that leaves Sunderland tenth in the table - four points behind the play-off places.
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Assistant Mike Dodds will step into the hotseat until the end of the season after his spell as interim earlier this season.
Pressure has been mounting on Beale in recent weeks with fans fuming at the weekend after he snubbed a handshake with Trai Hume.
As the defender was subbed off in the 87th minute he put his hand out and waited for a high five from his gaffer.
But Beale did not acknowledge him, ignoring the 21-year-old.
The manager has since apologised and claimed he did not see his out-stretched hand.
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Beale previously ranted about fan criticism and jibes from them about his accent.
He said: "I replaced a popular manager but I didn’t sack him, did I? And he won two in nine before he left, so are we making out it was all perfect?
“People didn’t want me here in the first place.
“You can say afterwards it’s about style or this and that, but let’s cut to the chase, people didn’t want me.
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“The reality is that there wasn’t a feelgood factor about me coming in.
“It’s fine, I’m not crying over it, I’m a big boy, but when people are personal they’ve lost straight away.
“Look, I can’t change my accent or where I’m from. I’m proud of where I’m from.”
There was also chaos in the recent January transfer window as Alex Pritchard refused to play as he forced a move to Mowbray's Birmingham.
Beale's coaching career began at Chelsea and he had lengthy spell with Liverpool's academy.
He then formed part of Steven Gerrard's backroom team as he won the league with Rangers, before following him to Aston Villa.
He quit Villa Park to land his first job in management at QPR in 2022.
Beale rejected an approach from Wolves and then agreed join Rangers before being sacked after 13 months.
Sunderland welcome Swansea on Saturday as Dodds begins his third spell in temporary charge at the Stadium of Light.
