Championship: Stoke axe Gary Rowett after just eight months in charge

Stoke have sacked manager Gary Rowett with immediate effect following their run of one win in their last six games.

A club statement issued on Tuesday morning confirmed the 44-year-old’s departure after less than a year in charge with the club, following their relegation to the Championship last season.

Stoke expected to be in the running for immediate promotion back to the Premier League this season, but having won fewer than a third of their games so far, they languish down in 14th position, eight points off the play-off spots.

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While they look to be safe of the relegation battle – sitting 13 points clear of 22nd-placed Bolton Wanderers – Stoke failed to beat Shrewsbury Town in the FA Cup third round at the weekend and face a replay next week, yet the board have decided to act swiftly in the hope of resurrecting their season with confirmation that Rowett has been relieved of his duties.

"Stoke City have terminated the contract of manager Gary Rowett,” a club statement read on Tuesday morning. "Members of his immediate coaching staff have also left the bet365 Stadium.

"The club would like to thank Gary and his staff for their efforts over the past eight months.

"A new managerial appointment will be made as swiftly as possible but in the meantime Rory Delap, Kevin Russell and Andy Quy will take charge of first-team affairs."

Rowett won nine of his 29 games in charge of Stoke across all competitions, but while the club were prepared to wait with Mark Hughes last season, they have pulled the trigger quickly on the former Derby County, Birmingham City and Burton Albion boss. Rowett succeeded Paul Lambert in the summer, with the Scottish manager replaced after failing to keep Stoke in the top flight, having replaced Hughes in January last year.

The early favourite to replace Rowett is former Everton, Manchester United and Sunderland manager David Moyes, who has been out of work since leaving West Ham United in the summer. Moyes is understood to be open to a return to management and is prepared to drop down to the second tier of English football for the first time since leaving Preston North End in 2002.

Other names in the running include former Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic and current Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes.