Birmingham City and West Brom's Championship rivals sack manager just weeks before trip to St Andrews’

Rotherham United have sacked manager Matt Taylor after a run of just two wins from their opening 16 Championship matches. Taylor’s final match in the dugout saw his side fall to a disappointing 5-0 defeat to Watford, in a result which left the Millers four points away from safety.

The 41-year-old had been in charge of the South Yorkshire side for 13 months, after leaving Exeter City to replace Paul Warne at the New York Stadium.

Taylor is credited with guiding Rotherham to safety last season, whilst recording a 19th place finish, which is the club’s highest position in the second-tier since the 2003/04 campaign when they were managed by Ronnie Moore. Club chairman Tony Stewart has kickstarted plans to find a replacement and announced the news in a club statement.

Stewart explained: “It was felt by myself and the Board that we had to act now by making a managerial change in order to give ourselves the best possible chance of retaining our Sky Bet Championship status this season.

“We are grateful to Matt for his efforts over the course of the last year and it has not been an easy decision to make. It goes without saying that he leaves with the very best wishes of everyone here at Rotherham United.”

Rotherham’s decision to sack Taylor comes just before the international break which gives the club just under two weeks to find a new manager before playing host to Yorkshire rivals Leeds United, who have won six of their last seven Championship fixtures.

The Millers follow that up with an away game against Hull City, while December begins with an away trip to take on Birmingham City at St Andrews on Saturday 2 December. The new boss also faces challenging games against West Brom at home and Leicester City away before the new year.