Nigel Pearson sacked as Bristol City manager after Severnside derby loss

Nigel Pearson has been sacked as manager of Bristol City with the club 15th in the Championship table.

The club’s chairman Jon Lansdown said it was a difficult decision but cited the need for change as the reason to relieve Pearson of his duties. The former Leicester and Watford manager had been in charge for two-and-a-half years.

Related: Gareth Ainsworth sacked by QPR after sixth straight Championship defeat

The Robins had won just two of their past seven league games and were beaten 2-0 by Severnside rivals Cardiff City on Saturday, after goals from Perry Ng and Ruben Colwill.

Lansdown told the club website: “This was a difficult decision to make as we recognise and appreciate how much Nigel has done for the club over the past two-and-a-half years on and off the pitch.

“Nigel is highly respected by the staff and players and has been very supportive of the academy structure and our women’s team. We all wanted Nigel to achieve our ambition to be promoted but, with our recent results, feel that now is the time to make a change to give the club the best possible chance of success.”

Bristol City announced that Pearson’s first team coach Jason Euell and head of medical performance Dave Rennie have also left the club, with Curtis Fleming to take interim charge, assisted by Ali Hines and Kalifa Cissé as the club seek to make a permanent aappointment.