HARTLEPOOL UNITED have sacked Keith Curle as manager.
Assistant manager Colin West also leaves the club with chairman Raj Singh thanking the pair for their efforts since taking over in September.
Curle, 59, initially became interim boss following the dismissal of Paul Hartley.
He was appointed on a full-time basis in December after picking up two wins and two draws in his first ten games.
But he has been unable to guide Hartlepool away from the threat of relegation, leading Singh to make the "difficult" decision to sack him.
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The chairman said in a statement: “This has been one of the most difficult decisions I’ve had to make at Pools. Keith and Colin in so many ways have improved the football club and our culture.
"They are both consummate professionals and they have genuinely been a pleasure to work with. I will go on record with my thanks to them both and the way that they have conducted business.
"Unfortunately we have just not seen the required results and I feel we must act now to give the club a chance in the final part of the season.
"Following the transfer window we believe there is a group of players that can secure our place in the league. We will act swiftly and do all that we can to get an immediate and smooth transition in the manager position.”
Hartlepool made 11 additions in the January window but have picked up just one win in seven games.
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A 1-0 home defeat to struggling Newport on Tuesday proved to be the final straw for Curle with Hartlepool just one point above the drop zone.
They have played four games more than 23rd-placed Crawley and relegation is a very real threat with the team having won just six of their 33 league games.