Portadown parted company with manager Matthew Tipton with "immediate effect" this afternoon.
The Shamrock Park club said a "mutual parting of ways" was agreed after a meeting between the 41-year-old and board of directors.
It is only eight months ago that Tipton signed a five-year contract extension, taking up a full-time position that was set to run until 2026.
The 41-year-old former Portadown and Linfield striker was first appointed to the managerial role in February 2018 and secured promotion to the Danske Bank Premiership in 2020.
He led the Ports to a ninth place finish last season but results and momentum have been hard to find this campaign.
Saturday's 3-1 defeat to Dungannon Swifts kept the club second-bottom in the table and in the relegation dropzone, seven points adrift of safety with 15 games to play.
After the weekend defeat at Stangmore Park Tipton branded his team's performance "terrible".
He added: "It’s not often I say that. I just thought the players looked bereft of ideas, bereft of belief, bereft of confidence and just everything was reactionary with us."
Portadown have won just two of their 23 league games this season, both against basement club Warrenpoint Town who lie five points below them with a game in hand.
The Shamrock Park men have also failed to win any of their 11 home league games this season, taking just six points from a possible 33 in the process.
In a statement on the club's website, Portadown said: "Portadown Football club Board of Directors met with Matthew Tipton this afternoon and both have agreed a mutual parting of ways with immediate effect.
"We would like to thank Matthew for his hard work and dedication to the role and wish him all the best in his future endeavours.
"A further coaching update will follow in due course."
Portadown are next in action on Tuesday night when they welcome Crusaders to Shamrock Park.
