Andre Villas-Boas fired by Chelsea

Andre Villas-Boas has been fired by Chelsea after barely eight months in charge of the Premier League club today leaving owner Roman Abramovich searching for his eighth manager in nine years.

The Russian oligarch lost patience with the inexperienced 34-year-old after Chelsea's first loss to West Bromwich Albion since 1979 on Saturday left the club fifth in the league, in danger of missing out on a lucrative Champions League qualification place.

"Andre Villas-Boas has parted company with Chelsea," the club said in a statement. "The board would like to record our gratitude for his work and express our disappointment that the relationship has ended so early.

"Unfortunately the results and performances of the team have not been good enough and were showing no signs of improving at a key time in the season."

Assistant coach Roberto Di Matteo, a former Chelsea player and West Bromwich Albion manager, will take charge of the Blues until the end of the season. His first game in charge will be Tuesday's FA Cup fifth-round replay at Birmingham.

On Friday, Villas-Boas insisted he would "never" quit Chelsea.

"Am I the right man for the job? Yes," he said. "I wouldn't have taken it if I didn't think that."