Harry Redknapp SACKED: Birmingham City part ways with former Tottenham and West Ham boss after just eight games this season
Blues have won just eight matches to start the season and are second bottom of the Championship
HARRY REDKNAPP has been SACKED by Birmingham City.
Blues have picked up just four points from eight matches this season and sit second-bottom of the Championship.
The former West Ham and Tottenham manager only took over at St Andrews in April.
Birmingham City's website CRASHED after the news was announced on Saturday evening.
The club announced that long-time Redknapp assistant Kevin Bond also left the club, with Lee Carsley taking over as caretaker until a replacement is found.
Redknapp's side had not won since August 12 and the 3-1 defeat at home to Preston was their fifth in a row in the league, with another in the cup.
At home to Preston North End, Redknapp's side had led through Maxime Colin - but Birmingham then shipped three goals in just 11 minutes to fall to a terrible defeat.
The 70-year-old lasted just 13 matches since his appointment at the end of last season - he won only four of those games.
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Unfortunately due to the poor start to the campaign which sees the club second from bottom of the Championship, we are left with no choice but to terminate the contract of the manager with immediate effect.
We thank him for all his efforts and wish him good luck for the future.
Lee Carsley, Blues' head professional development coach, will step in as caretaker manager.
There will be no further comment at this time.
Birmingham City statement
Redknapp was backed by the board with a massive rebuild of the playing squad in the summer - nine players were signed on permanent deals and another five were brought in on loan.
Speaking after the Preston game, but before learning his fate, Redknapp said his team had "disintegrated" against Preston.
He said: "I thought we played well first half, I only asked them to do exactly the same in the second half as what we did first.
"We started the second half well, on the front foot, we get a corner then after that they came on to us and we couldn't handle it.
"Basically they were quicker than us in the second half, sharper, and we disintegrated a bit really.
"The goals came from basic errors. What can you do about it?
"You stand there as a manager, what can I do about that? What can anyone do. It was just rank, poor play from us that cost us goals. It was very difficult."