Rosenior sacked after worst run since 1912...

Chelsea FC sacked manager Liam Rosenior on Wednesday after less than four months in charge, following a run of five successive Premier League defeats.

Chelsea have lost seven of their last eight matches in all competitions and failed to score in their last five league outings — their worst such run since 1912.

Rosenior, 41, was appointed in January after leaving RC Strasbourg Alsace, a club affiliated with Chelsea’s ownership group, replacing Enzo Maresca.

A 3-0 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion on Tuesday, which Rosenior described as “unacceptable”, proved decisive.

“Chelsea Football Club has today parted company with Head Coach Liam Rosenior,” the club said in a statement. “Recent results and performances have fallen below the necessary standards.”

Assistant coach Calum McFarlane will take over on an interim basis, starting with the FA Cup semi-final against Leeds United on Sunday.

Chelsea are seventh in the Premier League, seven points off the Champions League places with four matches remaining.

The club said it would begin a process to appoint a long-term successor, as it seeks to salvage European qualification and ease financial pressure after reporting a £262.4 million pre-tax loss last season.

Rosenior’s tenure followed the dismissal of Maresca, a decision that drew criticism from players including Enzo Fernández and Marc Cucurella.

Despite winning the FIFA Club World Cup and the UEFA Conference League last year, Chelsea have struggled for consistency after more than £1 billion spent on players since the takeover from former owner Roman Abramovich.

Supporters have continued to protest against the club’s owners, while uncertainty remains over the future of key players such as Cole Palmer amid the prospect of missing out on Champions League football again.