Swansea part company with Garry Monk 'with a heavy heart' - chairman Huw Jenkins
Swansea have begun their search for a new manager after "very reluctantly" parting company with Garry Monk.
Former Swans boss Brendan Rodgers has been installed as favourite for the job, three and a half years after he let the Liberty Stadium to join Liverpool.
Chairman Huw Jenkins made the decision to bring to an end Monk's 11-year stay at the Welsh club after a run of one win in 13 matches - Saturday's 3-0 home defeat by Leicester left them just one point above the Barclays Premier League relegation zone.
Swansea manager Garry Monk has left the Premier League club
Jenkins told the club website: "The decision has been made very reluctantly and with a heavy heart.
"To find ourselves in our current situation from where we were in the first week of September, and considering the drop of performance levels and run of results over the last three months, it has brought us to this unfortunate decision today.
"Garry took on the job 22 months ago with the backing of everyone at the club.
"And when you take into account the excellent campaign we had last season when we broke all club records in the Premier League, nobody foresaw the position we would be in at this moment in time.
"Bearing that in mind, and the current uncertainty around the club, we felt the situation needed clarity to move forward.
"It was not a decision we took lightly, especially given Garry's history and standing within the club.
"And it goes without saying that we wish Garry all the very best for the future and thank him for his tremendous service, not only as a player over the last decade, but also as our manager. He will always have a warm welcome at this football club."
Jenkins added that he hoped to appoint a replacement "as soon as possible".
Monk joined Swansea - then in League Two - as a player in 2004, on a free transfer from Barnsley, and went on to be a part of three promotion-winning campaigns, in addition to winning the Capital One Cup and Championship play-off final.
He made 270 appearances for the Swans, then took over as interim first-team boss in February last year following Michael Laudrup's departure.
Swansea were just two points above the drop zone at that time, but Monk kept them up and was handed the permanent job the following May.
He subsequently led Swansea to an eighth-placed Premier League finish last term with a record 56 points, and this season began with wins against Manchester United and Newcastle and Monk being touted as a future England manager.
However, Swansea's form dropped off dramatically, and just three months later the 36-year-old finds himself out of a job.
The Swansea City Supporters' Trust, which owns 21 per cent of the club, announced backing for the decision to part company with Monk.
The Trust expressed disappointment that things had not worked out this season for Monk, but understood the board's concern at current results and the need to turn things around sooner, rather than later.
Trust chairman Phil Sumbler told the Trust's website: "Garry Monk has been a great servant to Swansea City, and his success last year as a young manager in the Premier League fully justified the decision to appoint him on a temporary basis in February 2014, and subsequently on a permanent basis.
"Garry has acknowledged that recent results have not been acceptable, and ultimately the club board has to take tough decisions in the longer-term interests of Swansea City.
"The Trust wish to place on record its thanks to Garry for his time at Swansea, both as a player and manager.
"His commitment has been unquestionable, and his contribution to perhaps the most successful period in the history of our football club will never be forgotten. The Swansea City Supporters' Trust sends him our best wishes for his future."
