Kit Symons sacked: Fulham axe manager with owner Shahid Khan seeking Premier League return

The decision comes the day after a 5-2 loss to Birmingham

Kit Symons (GETTY IMAGES)

The 44-year-old has left his post after an inconsistent start to the Sky Bet Championship season which has left the Cottagers in 12th place.

Fulham were beaten 5-2 at home by Birmingham, following a 3-1 loss at Burnley in midweek.

Club owner Shahid Khan has aspirations to return the club to the Premier League and the club have now acted by sacking the former Wales defender.

"No one can ever doubt the effort and commitment that Kit put into Fulham, not only as first team manager, but also as a player here, and as a key figure in the success of our academy," Khan told the club's official website.

"Kit came through for us last year at this time and helped stabilise our club on and off the pitch, and we're very grateful for that and his many other contributions over the years.

"It is now time to take Fulham to the higher level of success that we expect from our first team manager and our players, and our supporters here in London and throughout the world deserve."

Symons took over as caretaker manager at Craven Cottage in September 2014 following the dismissal of Felix Magath and took on the role permanently in late October of the same year.

Their season has been an inconsistent one this time around, and the west London club are eight points of the play-off places.

Speaking after the defeat to Birmingham, Symons said he felt defence was the area that was letting his side down most.

"Realistically, if we tighten up defensively, we will take something away from the offensive play, to get the balance just right is difficult to do and that's the key to it," he told the club's official website.

"I'd gladly give up scoring a few more goals for a few more clean sheets. I always fancy us to score. We only need to score one a game to win it, but that's only if you are keeping a clean sheet and we haven't kept enough of them."

PA