Fulham have sacked manager Lawrie Sanchez with immediate effect.
Sanchez took over the reins at Craven Cottage in May
The club are struggling in 18th place in the Premier League, having won just two games all season, their last win coming against Reading on 3 November.
"Losing Premiership status is a proposition that simply cannot be contemplated," said a club statement.
The 48-year-old's departure comes just a day after former Fulham midfielder John Collins's sudden resignation as Hibernian manager.
Collins has been installed as the front-runner to succeed Sanchez, despite the former Scotland international having dismissed suggestions of a return to Craven Cottage.
"The last thing I want to be talking about now is another job, that's unfair," he told BBC Radio 5 Live.
"If that opportunity arises then I will have a long hard think about it and make the decision.
"But at this moment in time I'll have a break, enjoy the family and look at football from the outside."
BBC Sport understands there has been no contact between the English club and their former player.
"The club is confident that it will find the right replacement to increase its chances of remaining in the Premiership, which is of vital importance," said the Fulham statement.
Former Fulham defender Kit Symons, who played with Collins when the Cottagers were promoted to the Premiership in 2001, believes the Scot has what it takes to succeed at Fulham.
"He was a very, very good player and he's clearly done a great job up at Hibs as well," Symons told BBC Radio 5 Live.
"John Collins was a very thoughtful and a very educated player and I imagine he's taken that into the management side as well.
Whoever comes in needs to shake things up dramatically
Former Fulham defender Kit Symons
"He'll be very thorough and very professional, exactly as he was as a player. I think he'll do a great job if it is to be him."
Symons added: "Retaining Premier League status is the be-all and end-all these days and now was the time probably where they felt they had to do something.
"They've not been playing well this season. Their style of football has not been pleasing for Fulham fans and they've not enjoyed watching their team this season.
"Whoever comes in needs to shake things up dramatically."
First-team coach Ray Lewington and reserve team manager Billy McKinlay will take charge of the team for Saturday's home game against Wigan.
Lewington described the departure of Sanchez as a "major surprise" and "a sad day" but vowed to continue in the role as long as chairman Mohamed Al Fayed desires.
"I will just get on with it until they tell me not to," he told BBC Radio 5 Live. "The club is looking for another manager and my name is probably among many that they have.
"There is lots of speculation but only the powers-that-be know and quite rightly they are keeping things close to their chest."
Long term changing your manager too frequently doesn't work
LMA vice-chairman Frank Clark
Sanchez had been under pressure following a run of four defeats in five games, which saw Fulham drop into the relegation zone.
The former Northern Ireland boss was given the job full-time in May having replaced Chris Coleman on a part-time basis last season.
He becomes the seventh Premier League manager to leave or be removed from his post this season.
Jose Mourinho (Chelsea), Sammy Lee (Bolton), Martin Jol (Spurs), Chris Hutchings (Wigan) and Billy Davies (Derby) were all sacked or left "by mutual consent", while Steve Bruce resigned as Birmingham boss to succeed Hutchings at Wigan.
League Managers' Association vice-chairman Frank Clark believes clubs are becoming too hasty when it comes to changing managers.
"Short-termism never works. What they might see in the short term is a couple of wins, but long term changing your manager too frequently doesn't work," he said.
"I understand where the chairmen are coming from. They obviously believe a change will be of benefit to a football club or they wouldn't do it.
"So we've got an education programme on our hands to try and persuade them and show them that this is not the necessarily the case."