Leeds United sack manager McDermott: Reports

New Delhi: Former English champions Leeds United sacked manager Brian McDermott on Friday after less than a year in charge, with the Championship (second tier) club hit by a run of poor form, British media reported.

Leeds, relegated from the top-flight in 2004, axed McDermott with the team languishing in 12th place in the second tier having not won a league game since mid-December. The Yorkshire club have lost four of their last five, including a humiliating 6-0 defeat at local rivals Sheffield Wednesday. They also lost in the FA Cup to fourth-tier Rochdale. McDermott was appointed by Leeds in April last year after he was sacked by Reading who were bottom of the Premier League. On Thursday, the Yorkshire team`s Middle East-based owners said they were talking to other potential investors after a takeover led by the club`s managing director collapsed. Media reports in Britain and Italy said Massimo Cellino, owner of Serie A side Cagliari, was close to a takeover deal.