Felix Magath has been sacked as manager of Fulham .A statement on the club's website revealed that American owner Shahid Khan had removed the German from his post and named Kit Symons as caretaker manager.

"This is an unfortunate but necessary change," Mr Khan said. "I am doing what I feel is right and needed for Fulham Football Club, for today as well as tomorrow.

"I thank our supporters for standing by us during these most difficult of times on the pitch, and promise better days ahead."

The move comes after a woeful start to the Championship season that sees the club without a win from their first seven games and just one point gained after a recent draw with Cardiff City.

The German's last game in charge was a bizarre 5-3 defeat to league leaders Nottingham Forest. Fulham fought back from 2-0 down to lead 3-2 but the team's defensive woes were exposed yet again as the home side came back themselves to win.

Magath replaced René Meulensteen last season but was unable to save Fulham from the drop after 13 years in the Premier League.

Shahid Khan 

Having won three Bundesliga titles during his career, he arrived with a reputation for demanding training regimes and old-school philosophies.

Over the summer he allowed nearly every established player to leave the club, including Steve Sidwell, Brede Hangeland and Damian Duff.

£11m was spent on Ross McCormack along with an influx of unknown quantities and the promotion of some promising youth players into the senior set-up.

However, seven games into the season (aside from a Capital One Cup win over Brentford) and it hasn't worked. After last night's match Magath said the season had been "a catastrophe" but remained confident he could turn the things around.

"It is a catastrophe. I have never had that before in my career and I am very sorry for our fans," he said.

"I ask for patience from the fans. I have no doubt we can get up the table."

He hasn't been given that chance.

Alan Pardew, the current Newcastle manager, Chris Hughton, Tim Sherwood and caretaker Symons have been made the immediate front-runners.

The statement from Fulham said Khan will "personally and immediately lead a thorough search for the new First Team Manager of the Club".

Fulham's next match is on Saturday at home to Blackburn Rovers.