Plymouth Argyle have sacked Head Coach Ian Foster after a desperate run of results that has seen the Pilgrims drop to within just one point of the relegation zone in the Sky Bet Championship.

Foster arrived at Home Park after working as assistant manager to Steven Gerrard in Saudi Arabia. The former England youth coach took over from Steven Schumacher, who left Argyle to become Stoke City manager just before Christmas.

The club statement said: Plymouth Argyle can confirm Head Coach Ian Foster has been relieved of his duties with immediate effect.

The 1-0 defeat to Bristol City has seen the club fail to win and score in five successive home games, with Argyle now sitting just one point above the relegation zone.

The Argyle Board feel now is the time to make a change in an effort to secure Argyle’s Sky Bet Championship survival for another season.

Director of Football Neil Dewsnip supported by first-team coach Kevin Nancekivell will take charge of the team for the remainder of the season, with Simon Ireland and Daryl Flahavan continuing in their respective roles. 

Chairman Simon Hallett said: “Ian was hired through a thorough and extensive recruitment process and his coaching credentials really stood out when making the appointment.

“But we have to balance long-term stability against short-term decisions, and we have given Ian as long as possible to see if results could improve.

“Unfortunately, that hasn’t been the case, and we feel now is the right time to make a change to give us the best chance of securing survival.

“The Green Army have been incredible in recent weeks, as ever, and we need you all now to continue that support as we embark on the final weeks of the campaign with Neil and Nance in charge.

“Together we can achieve what we set out to achieve at the start of the season.”

Everyone at Argyle would like to thank Ian for his tireless efforts during his time at the club and wish him well for the future.

The Greens travel to bottom club Rotherham United on Friday evening and then welcome QPR to Home Park on Tuesday. The penultimate home game is a tough one, with promotion-chasing Leicester visiting on April 12.

Argyle then travel to Stoke and Millwall before the season ends at home to Hull City on May 4.