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The Sheffield Wednesday chairman, Milan Mandaric, has confirmed the club's manager, Alan Irvine, has been sacked after just over a year in charge at Hillsborough. The former Preston North End manager, 52, has been axed by the League One club following a six-game winless run which culminated in a 5-3 defeat at Peterborough on Tuesday.

Mandaric said: "It is unfortunate, but this had to take place. The decision has been made on what is in the best interests of the club. We will be making further announcements in due course."

The Owls' defeat at Peterborough left them 12th in the table, eight points adrift of the play-offs and five above the relegation zone. Irvine, who held crisis talks with Mandaric yesterday after the heavy loss at London Road, had been backed by his chairman during the January transfer window.

Reda Johnson, Michael Morrison, Mark Reynolds, Gary Madine and Isaiah Osbourne have all arrived at Hillsborough in recent weeks.

The former Wednesday player Gary Megson and the ex-Crystal Palace, Coventry City and Hull City manager Iain Dowie have emerged as early candidates to succeed Irvine, who signed a three-and-a-half-year contract when he replaced Brian Laws as manager in January 2010.

The assistant manager, Rob Kelly, and the coach Billy Barr will take charge until a successor for Irvine is found.

Labels: Guardian, Irvine, manager, Sheffield, Wednesday

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Labels: February, Independent, Matrix, Sports, Wednesday