BREAKING: Bristol City sack Nigel Pearson after Cardiff City defeat

Bristol City have parted company with first-team manager Nigel Pearson.

He has been ‘relieved of his role as manager’ and leaves the club alongside first-team coach Jason Euell and head physio Dave Rennie. Assistant manager Curtis Fleming will take charge of the Robins on an interim basis until a replacement is found, and will be supported by Ali Hines and Kalifa Cisse.

His last act was overseeing a 2-0 defeat to Cardiff City in the Severnside Derby at the Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday, October 28. Bristol City are 15th in the league standings at the time of Pearson’s departure, and won five of their 14 league games this term.

City Chairman Jon Lansdown said: “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.”

The 60-year-old oversaw 131 games during his 977-day reign in charge at Ashton Gate, winning 42, drawing 32 and losing 57 matches which gave him a win percentage of 32.06%. He led the club to to 19th, 17th and 14th placed finishes respectively in the two-and-a-half seasons he was in charge.

Bristol City follow in the footsteps of their inter-city rivals Bristol Rovers who sacked Joey Barton - appointed around the same time as Pearson - on Thursday. Championship rivals QPR also parted ways with their manager Gareth Ainsworth on Saturday following a defeat to Pearson’s former club Leicester City.

The Robins’ next scheduled match is against Sheffield Wednesday at Ashton Gate on Saturday, October 4. The Owls won their first league game of the season, beating Rotherham United 2-0 on Sunday.