8 Jan 2011

Roy Keane sacked as Ipswich manager

8:27 pm on 8 January 2011

Former Manchester United star Roy Keane has been sacked as manager of Engl;ish football side Ipswich after 20 months in the job.

The club have lost seven of their last nine games and the 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest earlier in the week left them sitting 19th in the Championship, England's second division.

Ipswich chief executive Simon Clegg says the club has "amicably terminated the contract of our manager Roy Keane with immediate effect,"

Cleggs adds it's "a sad day for the club," saying Keane had reacted to his dismissal with "disappointment and sadness."

Keane led the club from eastern England to the semi-finals of the League Cup where they will face Arsenal.

Keane's sacking also comes just 48 hours before Ipswich face Chelsea in the FA Cup third round.

First-team coach Ian McParland will take charge at Stamford Bridge.