BREAKING: Ranieri Sacked As Fulham Manager

By Joshua Walters

Claudio Ranieri has been sacked as Fulham manager after less than four months at the Craven Cottage.

The London-based club announced the decision on its Twitter handle on Thursday and disclosed further the appointment of a former player, Scott Parker, as caretaker manager.

"Fulham Football Club Chairman, Shahid Khan today named Scott Parker as caretaker manager, replacing Claudio Ranieri," the tweet read.

Ranieri's future at the Craven Cottage had earlier been met with uncertainty following the string of poor results of the team under the Italian.

Ranieri, who guided Leicester City to the Premier League title in the 2015/16 season, took over the club from Slavisa Jokanovic, who was sacked after leading the team deep into the relegation trap.

Fulham’s fourth straight Premier League defeat last weekend at Southampton was the last straw that broke the camel's back as it forced the club and manager into a crises meeting whose fallouts titled to the latter's sack.

The club finally announced the decision to relieve the Italian trainer of his duties on Thursday, announcing on its official Twitter handle the appointment of former player Scot Parker as caretaker manager until a substantive manager is found.

Fulham now lie on 19th position with 17 points and have 10 more points separating them from the drop zone with just 10 games to end the season. 

Ranieri was signed by the London club in November with the responsibility to guide the club out of the claws of relegation.

The 62-year-old manager experienced the wrath of a section of the club’s fans during the defeat at Southampton.

A section of the fans chanted "you don’t know what you’re doing” as the team lost 2-0 at the Saint Mary’s. 

The fans did not only fume at the manager but also at the club vice-president, Tony Khan, whose name was written in a banner that read 'Risk-free? Are you watching, Tony Khan?’

Ranieri was asked about questions surrounding his future after Wednesday's defeat but said he had no idea as he directed reporters to the club's owner.

“My job? I don’t know. Ask the owner.”

“Something could happen. If you don’t believe, it’s done,” he added. “You have to believe. You have to fight. If you don’t fight, already you’ve lost.

“Always in my career, I’m used to working hard. I know it’s very difficult but until mathematically it’s impossible we continue to fight.”