Blackpool sack boss Jose Riga

London: Blackpool sacked manager Jose Riga on Monday after just four and a half months in charge of the Championship`s bottom club.

Riga`s team had taken only six points from their 14 second tier games since he took charge and the former Charlton boss has paid the price for that dismal record.

Working with a threadbare squad, which contained just eight players when the new season started, the 57-year-old Belgian always faced a tough job at Bloomfield Road and had publicly questioned Blackpool`s transfer policy on a number of occasions.

"We couldn`t leave the decision any longer to give someone else the opportunity to help us work our way out of the position we are currently in," said chairman Karl Oyston.

The Seasiders were in the Premier League four seasons ago, yet they are now searching for a fifth manager since Ian Holloway left for Crystal Palace in November 2012.

Blackpool`s first-team coach Noel Blake will take charge of training on Tuesday, but former Birmingham manager Lee Clark had been heavily linked with the Blackpool job, even before Riga`s departure was confirmed, and he is the early favourite for the permanent position.