Leicester City have sacked manager Craig Shakespeare just four months after he signed a three-year deal to take the job on a permanent basis.
The Foxes are third from bottom in the Premier League and have not won any of their past six league matches.
Shakespeare, 53, succeeded title winner Claudio Ranieri in February, initially on a temporary basis.
After steering the Foxes away from trouble to finish in 12th place, he was given the job permanently in June.
According to a BBC report, one of Leicester's players said the squad had not been told of the decision in advance, and only found out through media reports.
Shakespeare won eight of his 16 games in charge last season, and led the club to the Champions League quarter-finals.
His departure follows a 1-1 draw with West Brom on Monday.
The last time Leicester went six league matches without a victory, Ranieri was sacked - nine months after leading them to the title.
Of their 10 matches this season - eight in the league and two in the EFL Cup - Leicester have won three and drawn three, losing four.
But they have won only once in the league - a 2-0 victory at home to Brighton on 19 August.
Their four defeats have come against Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool.
Carlo Ancelotti, recently sacked by Bayern Munich, former England manager Sam Allardyce, ex-Manchester United boss David Moyes and former Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew – all figure prominently in the betting markets.
Also among the potential candidates are former Oxford boss Michael Appleton, who had been working as Shakespeare's assistant, Wales manager Chris Coleman and ex-Man City boss Roberto Mancini.
Former Leicester striker James Scowcroft told BBC Radio 5 live he believes the club will go for "a big name".