Mark Hughes sacked as boss of struggling King's Lynn Town

Hughes was dismissed on Monday, two days after the Linnets were beaten 1-0 at Warrington. His assistant, Adrian Whitbread, has also left the club.

Lynn have won just one of their 10 National League North games this season and sit third from bottom of the table.

It is in stark contrast to last season, when they finished second to AFC Fylde but were beaten by Kidderminster Harriers in the play-offs.

Hughes was in charge for that game, as he had been for the final five games of the regular season - all of which were victories - having moved up from his role as first team coach to take over as caretaker boss when Tommy Widdrington departed for Aldershot Town.

Linnets owner Stephen Cleeve (Image: Ian Burt)

Lynn owner Stephen Cleeve gave him the job of a permanent basis in the summer, when Hughes saw a number of key senior players depart.

That, combined with a series of injuries, did little to help him – after the Warrington defeat Hughes went and spoke to some of the travelling Lynn fans to plead his case.

But for Cleeve a decision had to be made – and the axe has fallen.

In a short statement on the club's official website, Cleeve said: “I will always be grateful to Mark for stepping up to the plate when Tommy Widdrington walked out on the club without notice to join Aldershot.

"Mark is a tremendous person and gave his all to the job in trying circumstances and I am very sad that it has not worked out as we both wanted at King’s Lynn Town FC.  

"I wish him well in his future career and am sure he will bounce back very quickly”.

It is understood that Academy director Alex Cross and captain Josh Coulson have been placed in temporary charge of the team.

Lynn's next game is at home to Buxton on Saturday October 7.