LONDON: Felix Magath and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer are both out of work after the latest managerial upheavals in the English Championship (second division).

Fulham have sacked Magath after their poor start to the season was exacerbated by elimination on Wednesday night from the League Cup.

Magath, 61, had been in charge only since February. He had no previous managerial experience in English football and was unable to prevent them from being relegated from the Premier League.

They are now bottom of the second division after taking only one point from their first seven games of the new campaign.

Magath had described Wednesday’s 5-3 defeat by Nottingham Forest as “a catastrophe.” Kit Symons has been appointed caretaker manager.

American billionaire chairman Shahid Khan, who sacked both Martin Jol and Rene Meulensteen last season, said: “This is an unfortunate but necessary change. I am

doing what I feel is right and needed for Fulham, for today as well as tomorrow.”

Senior players including Brede Hangeland, Damien Duff and Steve Sidwell, left the club in the summer as Magath brought in 14 new faces, including £11m striker Ross McCormack from Leeds.

Magath used 29 different players this season but his only victory came in the League Cup first round against Brentford.

The ex-Bayern Munich, Schalke and Wolfsburg coach won the Bundesliga three times in his native Germany but won only four matches during his seven-month tenure at Craven Cottage.

Former Wales defender Symons, who has been appointed as caretaker manager during the interim period, scored 14 goals in 129 appearances for Fulham during a three-year spell with the club between 1998 and 2001. The 43-year-old is currently part of Wales’ backroom staff and has previously coached Fulham’s academy side.

Cardiff City manager Solskjaer has stepped down after less than nine months in charge. The announcement was made after Solskjaer, 41, held talks with chairman Mehmet Dalman.

City are 17th in the table after three losses in seven games, including Tuesday’s 1-0 home defeat by Middlesbrough and a 4-2 collape against Norwich.

Veteran defender Danny Gabbidon and Scott Young are in temporary charge.

Former Molde coach Solskjaer and Dalman both cited a “difference in philosophy” for the former Manchester United striker’s departure.

Owner Vincent Tan said: “Ole was hired by Cardiff City on our understanding and belief that he would help us fight relegation from the Premier League.

“After the club was relegated, many people advised me to let him go, but I decided to keep Ole on for the Championship season. Regrettably our recent results do not justify Ole’s continued role as manager.”

Tan described Solskjaer as an “honest and hard-working professional” but added: “Unfortunately the football results were not in his favour.”

Before joining Cardiff, Solskjaer helped Molde win the Norwegian title for the first time

Solskjaer said: “I want to thank Vincent for giving me the opportunity to manage Cardiff City. He has my full respect and I really wish him all the best in his pursuit of making this football club successful.”